Starving Hearts

"Could find that extraordinary being you described some weeks ago? The charitable gentleman, who will overlook your faults and rescue you from the prison in which you believe you live?"

Annette blinked and swallowed hard.

"What makes you think he would have you? You are hideously opinionated, and you've an unnatural appetite for knowledge no respectable lady has any right to indulge. Heaven forgive me for allowing your father to educate you like a son. No man will abide your opinions. The face you have them is a detriment."

"That is unreasonable."

"Unreasonable? You know nothing of the word." Mother's eyes flickered, then she gazed out the window. "Your father is all mercy and kindness."

"But I need - "

"Hold your tongue and listen." She snapped back from the mysterious lapse. "What you need is to come to your senses regarding a Season and finding a good match."

"You mean allowing myself to be auctioned off to the highest bidder?"

"How dare you?"

"Would the metaphor of a breeding mare suit better?" Annette shuddered inside. Had she really said that?

"Insolent child! You know naught of the process."

"And I haven't the slightest interest in finding out."

"Well, it is high time you start. Otherwise, you might as well accept Sir Steven Likebridge, if he would take you."

Air evaporated from Annette's lungs, and her head started to swim - but not because of her health. It was that loathsome name."(Pg. 4).


Here's the thing about debut authors, either their novel will fall short of your expectations or it will be one that will make you an instant fan of their writing. The later is the case with Janine Mendenhall's novel Starving Hearts. It is the first novel in the Triangular Trade Trilogy and it has me hooked! I try not to read the accolades at the beginning of each book, but in this case I did because the back cover synopsis didn't really interest me in understanding why I chose this novel to read in the first place. Here is what sparked my interest to dig into this novel, "Starving Hearts is the kind of book that makes you want to stay up all night to finish it..." I can't tell you how very true that was when I began my journey into this amazing novel.

This is just the beginning of Annette Chetwynd's journey to discover the man who saved her from being assaulted by Sir Steven Likebridge. She fainted before she discovered who he was but there are moments when she remembers faint traces of her rescuer. Now she is bound and determined to find such a man, even through her mother is determined to marry her off to the first man with a title and wealth to go along with it. Yet her father is willing to hold off until Annette finds someone she loves.

Mr. Peter Adsley wants to find the perfect wife for his life as a pastor and believes that he has found the right one. He is all set to propose the night of the ball, but gets the surprise of his life when the rug is pulled out from underneath him and she accepts a proposal from his brother Richard instead. Now he is struggling to find someone else who might make a great pastor's wife when he runs into Annette seated beside him at dinner and realizes that she is the same woman he rescued more than a year ago and is captivated by her beauty and quick wit that is unlike anything he has ever experienced before. Is it possible that God has a better plan in store for him after all?

I received Starving Hearts by Janine Mendenhall compliments of Heritage Beacon Fiction 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 fair and unbiased opinion. If you are a fan of traditional regencies, Downton Abbey, or Jane Austen, you won't want to miss this one. There is never a lack in the story line and you are rooting for Peter and Annette all the way since they meet formally over dinner. Yet things don't always work out the way you want and the odds are completely stacked against them from their families, to someone else who has sinister motives at heart. This is a brilliant novel that takes its time for readers to truly know these characters and you really feel like they are real people whom you care about. That is what makes this novel so enjoyable. I can't wait for the next novel in this series and for certain Janine Mendenhall is on my "Must have" list of anything she is going to write. Simply brilliant and worthy of all 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Starving Hearts, Janine Mendenhall or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Starving Hearts by Janine Mendenhall

You can find Janine Mendenhall on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Starving Hearts, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.

   Will Annette's search for love and acceptance replace the loss and hurt in her heart? Find out in Janine Mendenhall's book one, Starving Hearts, of the Triangular Trade Trilogy. Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage. But she yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Join in the search for love and acceptance with Janine and Starving Hearts by entering to win the Delightful Heart Gift Pack Giveaway.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Starving Hearts
• A bottle of essential oils
• An essential oils diffuser necklace
• A chiffon scarf
• A shoulder handbag
• A copy of Jane Austen's World

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on September 12. The winner will be announced September 13 on Janine's blog.

Dawn of Emberwilde

Who hasn't always dreamed that somewhere in our ancestral family tree sits a wealthy family member just waiting to help us with whatever life is handing out at the moment? Isabel Creston had believed when her father died, she was left alone with her half sister Elizabeth to spend her time at Fellsworth School waiting for the opportunity to work as a teacher or governess for some well-to-do family to hire her. She never dreamed that one day all that would change when Mr. Bradford is sent to retrieve her and Elizabeth from the school to live with her Aunt Margaret and Uncle Charles Ellison in Emberwilde.

Excitement and also a sense of loss accompany the girls as they arrive at the provincial estate surrounded by heavy forests. She hopes this will be the beginning of a whole new future for the two until she overhears her Aunt and Uncle arguing over who might be the best suitor for Isabel as they are dealing with financial ruin and hope that a smart match to the right man might alleviate any more strain on their debts. Rumors abound among the household staff that the Emberwilde forests are haunted with ghosts and one that apparently claimed the life of her mother as she will soon discover.

She is interested in two very different and handsome men. Mr. Bradford who was kind enough to make sure that Isabel and Elizabeth were not rushed into packing too soon before arriving at the new home, and is also in charge of running the Foundling House, which cares for orphans in helping them plan for a new future. Colin Galloway is the town's magistrate and has been hired to look into recent attempts at possible smuggling that might be going on in Emberwilde Forest, land that the Ellison family owns. How will she make the right choice when so many are pressuring to make a decision and both her Aunt and Uncle want her to pick very different men?

I received Dawn of Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of the novel in exchange for my personal and unbiased opinion. This is the second novel in the Treasures of Surrey series, and it makes me want to go back and read The Curiosity Keeper again to see where the tie in lies. It has been far too long between novels to remember, but it seems that perhaps they are simply very different stories in the same area involving different families. With that being said, you don't have to read the first novel to get a sense for what is happening here. I really love this one because it feels as if there is a blend of traditional regency mixed with a bit of fairy tale like Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella. You have Isabel which is removed from what she is used to and envisions a much different life than what she gets. Everything changes for her in one instant when she receives a letter announcing she suddenly has family again. For sure, it would be both exciting and a bit fearful to leave everything you've ever know behind as you hope for a different future for your life. I would rate this one a 4. 5 out of 5 stars and Discussion Questions and a peak at The Curiosity Keeper is included at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about Dawn of Emberwilde, Sarah E. Ladd or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Dawn of Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd 

You can find Sarah E. Ladd on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Dawn of Emberwilde, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 

A Sapphire Season

Who doesn't love a great novel of a romantic love that simply can not be because of circumstances that prevent the two ill fated from becoming a couple? Much like a Jane Austen novel right? One of my favorites being Pride and Prejudice. In A Sapphire Season, from author Lynn Morris, we get a sneak peek into the lives of Lady Mirabella Tirel who is searching for just the right prospective suitor now that she is of age. Never does she ever consider the feelings of her close friend, Sir Giles Knyvet, her childhood friend because that is not a match that either her parents or even Giles for that matter would consider. But the heart knows what the heart wants, and as much as it pains Sir Giles, he must take a back seat and do what he can to ensure that Mirabella finds just the right man in her life, wishing that is was him instead.

Soon the two childhood friends find themselves pulled in opposite directions as three possible suitors appear on the horizon with the hopes of catching Mirabella's heart, while Sir Giles can only stand by the sidelines and watch. He on the other hand has to deal with an outstanding debt of his own family and thus the reason why he can not pursue Mirabella. It is something that demands his full attention if he is to ever have any hope of convincing her to marry him instead, but will he have enough time to right matters before Mirabella makes a decision over whom to marry. Now that she is turning twenty- two, Mirabella knows if she doesn't find someone soon, her hopes for finding a successful match will simply be out of the question. No one will want to marry her if she continues to wait any longer.

Since having her heart broken once before, she has long given up hope that one can ever hope to marry for love, so she hopes that if she can find a suitable match, she might learn to love the man she marries one day. This comes at a time, where society and social standing is what is important and even though Mirabella's parents support her choices, they also have to do what is best based on the time period in which this novel is written, a far different one from the world women have today.

I received A Sapphire Season by Lynn Morris compliments of Faith Words. a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest opinion. I did not receive any monetary compensation outside a copy of this novel for my honest review and the opinions expressed are simply my own. Fans of traditional regencies will love this novel. It was a first for me from author Lynn Morris and I look forward to more novels from her in the near future. In my opinion I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and even fans of Dowtown Abbey would enjoy this one as well! There is a group reading guide at the conclusion which is perfect for book groups!

For more information about A Sapphire Season, Lynn Morris or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Sapphire Season by Lynn Morris

You can find Faith Words on Facebook to stay up to date on all their latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Sapphire Season, please visit Faith Word's website.

An Honest Heart

Kaye Dacus is one of my favorite must watch authors since reading her first novel, Follow the Heart and she came back in a big way with An Honest Heart. Captivated in your traditional regency style, Kaye mixes this one up with a dramatic twist with the upcoming opening of the Great Exhibition just at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

In An Honest Heart combines two very distinctive love stories, the first being with Cadence "Caddy" Bainbridge, a seamstress who has made a life for herself opening her own dressmaking shop in the heart of Oxford, England in 1851. She uses her valuable skills not only to create the equivalent fashions of the higher end shops in London, but also incorporating those same skills to create attire for the lower class residents who also need clothing. She spends her free time teaching sewing skills to the women housed in the poor houses and prisons so that they can have a skill to fall back on much like she did. It's her way of simply giving back to the heart of the community. She was sent to a finishing school by her father who had connections with high end schools through his friendships with head masters as a way of hoping to raise her opportunities for marriage to a fine gentleman in the future.

She meets quite by fate and accident, Dr. Neal Stradbroke, the town's new doctor as he brings her mother home late one afternoon who has fainted on her daily walk. Dr. Neal Stradbroke advises Caddy that her mother has heart issues and needs to make sure she is taking better care of herself, but Caddy's mother sees a fine prospect for a husband in Neal instead and will stop at nothing to ensure that the two see what is right in front of their eyes.

The secondary story involves Edith Buchanan, a fine upstanding but often times cold-hearted wealthy women of a prominent family who is searching for a well deserved husband complete with a high end title. When her father arranges for Lord Thynne, a single viscount to arrive at their home in hopes of a possible connection for Edith, he instead has interests in her American cousin, Katharine Dearing, an heiress to a railway fortune instead of the Ice Queen. She plots to find a way for Katharine to do something that she can use to engineer her downfall and thus enable Lord Thynne to fall in love with her instead. She makes a bet with Oliver Carmicheal, Lady Carmichael's eldest son and future baron at Chawley Abbey that if neither of them secure a better match for themselves by the close of the Great Exhibition, they will agree to marry one another.

Yet Oliver Carmichael has his own sites set on Miss Bainbridge after making a bet with his close friends at a gentlemen's club when he is snubbed and dismissed by Miss Bainbridge. He believes he will have no problem in getting her to fall in love with him, since he has never been turned down by any female in his life and wagers 100 pounds that he can do it by the day the Great Exhibition opens on May 1st.

There are so many different twists and turns in this exceptional and wonderfully written novel, you truly feel like you're at the heart of something amazing as you watch things unfold between the different classes set in this novel. You are cheering that some will get what they truly deserve and you definitely have the good and evil characters in this one. I often found myself seeing the characters of Caddy Bainbridge played by the actress, Anne Hathaway and Dr. Neal Stradbroke by Hugh Jackman, while the opposing characters Mr. Oliver Carmichael portrayed by Billy Zane and Edith Buchanan played by Charlize Theron. I can't wait to see what Kaye Dacus comes up with next and this one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus compliments of B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the second novel in the Great Exhibition Series.  For more information about An Honest Heart, Kaye Dacus or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus

You can also find Kaye Dacus on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on An Honest Heart please visit B and H Publishing's website. 

• Series: A Great Exhibition Novel
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: B and H Books (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433677210
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677212
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall

Ah sometimes the best places to visit are the ones best-selling authors take us to in their novels. For fans of Jane Austen or Downton Abbey, you will absolutely LOVE the Whispers on the Moors series from Sarah E. Ladd. I've been honored to be whisked away as an unseen voyeur watching the lives of the women who encounter life at Willowgrove Hall and the secrets that remain hidden beneath the stone walls there.

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall is the third and hopefully not final novel in the series and it takes us back to Willowgrove Hall once more into the lives of the Trent family who now reside there. Mrs. Trent has fallen ill and now that her lady's companion has gotten married she has requested a suitable replacement. Her letter finds her way to the Rosemere School for Young Ladies in Darbury, England. After spending five years there, Cecily Faire has been asked by the Mrs. Sterling to fulfill the role of the companion for Mrs. Trent. Cecily has been living at Rosemere since her father abandoned her there after learning of her plans to runaway with a man she had fallen in love with at sixteen. She was more than ready to begin a new life, but wondered if she might be able to find the family that had been stolen from her five years ago. Had her father forgiven her after all these years? Perhaps the answers lie within the walls of Willowgrove Hall.

Nathaniel Stanton, the steward of Willowgrove Hall has his own secrets that have been revealed to him by his mother. He has learned that the man he believed was his father wasn't and instead his father had been Mr. Trent who had long passed away. Since Mrs. Trent learned of her husband's indiscretions in their marriage, she had punished Mr. Stanton instead of her husband. That is why they have such a conflicting working relationship and why she condones having him working the estate she is living in. She knows Nathaniel should be the rightful heir, but it is something she had to keep hidden and allow the estate to pass to her nephew instead when she dies. Knowing she doesn't have much time left Mrs. Trent looks forward to spending time with someone instead of living the remainder of her years alone. Her nephew, while still part of the family, is planning his own wedding and is looking forward to the day when he will become the rightful heir to Willowgrove Hall.

I received A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Traditional regency romance fans will be thrilled at the poetic writing style that Sarah utilizes to take readers back to the early 1800's when romance was still something desired and dreamed about. I absolutely love that she utilizes flaws in Cecily and Nathaniel to make them more believable to readers. You find yourself rallying for both of them in spite of the odds against them. In the darkest places sometimes is where we find the light of hope again. I can only hope that Sarah will continue with the characters her readers have become fans of and this will not be the last novel in the Whispers of the Moors series. Truly worth 5 out of 5 royal stars in this readers heart!

For more information about A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, Sarah E. Ladd or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

You can find Sarah E. Ladd on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.

Award-winning author Sarah E. Ladd examines how to escape the clutches of a tainted past in the final installment of her Whispers on the Moor series. A Regency-era novel, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall cleverly shows that even though our pasts may be shameful or painful, God can take the darkest personal histories and turn them into the brightest futures.

Celebrate with Sarah by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Lady at Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 2nd. Winner will be announced November 3rd here.

The Dancing Master

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen 

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

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


Best-selling author Julie Klassen will be hosting a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a live webcast event (1/23) to celebrate the release of her latest novel, The Dancing Master. Enter and RSVP today!

 
  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 23rd. Winner will be announced at the "All Things Jane (from Austen to Eyre)" Live Webcast Event on January 23rd. Connect with Julie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Julie will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, Jane Austen DVDs, fun "Jane" merchandise, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Dancing Master and join Julie and friends on the evening of January 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

The Pursuit of Mary Bennet

If you are a Jane Austen fan of Pride and Prejudice, you will love this novel. If you haven't seen Pride and Prejudice, watch it and then deeply immerse yourself in the richness this novel offers when it picks up where the original leaves off. It had been quite awhile since I had read or even watched the movie and in order to reacquaint myself in the characters of the Bennet girls I spent some time watching the movie. Since this novel takes a look at life from Mary Bennet's point of view I had to remember who she was. Since she isn't addressed much I wondered why Pamela Mingle chose this particular Bennet girl to write a sequel on, but trust me when I tell you, she needs to be applauded for her efforts. Jane Austen would be proud!

Mary Bennet was the middle of five Bennet girls and one that most of her sisters and often times parents ignored. She wasn't pretty or even possessed any real talent a man looking for a suitable wife would find worth turning his head for. In fact, in Pride and Prejudice, Mary is chastened by her father for her lack of musical talent at playing the pianoforte or even singing. Now after spending time working at music, she possess a fine talent in those areas, but lacking the self esteem or even being bold enough as her sisters, she prefers to read alone or take walks, much like the wall flower she sees herself as.

Even her parents know that Mary will undoubtedly be an old spinster lacking in finding a suitable husband and her best outcome in life will be the governess for her older married sisters Jane or Elizabeth. But deep down inside Mary wants more but isn't sure how to find it. She is constantly reprimanded whenever she offers an opinion in any situation because she lacks the experience in such areas that her opinion isn't considered from love to marriage or even raising children. When her younger sister Lydia returns home while expecting a child from her husband Mr. Wickham, it throws the Bennet household into more scandal. In fact it turns out that Lydia isn't sure the child she is carrying is even her husbands and she has left him.

Mary is taken to her sister Jane's while the family decides how to best handle Lydia's latest predicament and to avoid having the rest of the daughter's tainted in the process. As only one of two sisters now left unmarried, Mary finds herself drawn to Mr. Henry Walsh. He seems genuinely interested in her as well but when Kitty, Mary's youngest sister deems that Henry is off limits, will Mary once again fade into the shadow or will she fight for what she wants in life?

I received The Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Pamela Mingle compliments of William Morrow, division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. However, this one was so worth taking the time to spend with Mary Bennet. I think out of all the Bennet daughters, I myself, relate to her more than the rest of the girls. Pamela Mingle did such a flawless job, I felt Jane Austen herself had written this one. I can easily give this one a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars and was so thrilled to be able to review this one. This is such a treat and to spend time savoring each page was well worth curling up with on a rainy cold evening. A MUST HAVE for any fan of Pride and Prejudice!

For more information about The Pursuit of Mary Bennet, Pamela Mingle, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Pamela Mingle

You can also find Pamela Mingle on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (November 26, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062274244
• ISBN-13: 978-0062274243
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches

An Honest Heart

Kaye Dacus is one of my favorite must watch authors since reading her first novel, Follow the Heart and she came back in a big way with An Honest Heart. Captivated in your traditional regency style, Kaye mixes this one up with a dramatic twist with the upcoming opening of the Great Exhibition just at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

In An Honest Heart combines two very distinctive love stories, the first being with Cadence "Caddy" Bainbridge, a seamstress who has made a life for herself opening her own dressmaking shop in the heart of Oxford, England in 1851. She uses her valuable skills not only to create the equivalent fashions of the higher end shops in London, but also incorporating those same skills to create attire for the lower class residents who also need clothing. She spends her free time teaching sewing skills to the women housed in the poor houses and prisons so that they can have a skill to fall back on much like she did. It's her way of simply giving back to the heart of the community. She was sent to a finishing school by her father who had connections with high end schools through his friendships with head masters as a way of hoping to raise her opportunities for marriage to a fine gentleman in the future.

She meets quite by fate and accident, Dr. Neal Stradbroke, the town's new doctor as he brings her mother home late one afternoon who has fainted on her daily walk. Dr. Neal Stradbroke advises Caddy that her mother has heart issues and needs to make sure she is taking better care of herself, but Caddy's mother sees a fine prospect for a husband in Neal instead and will stop at nothing to ensure that the two see what is right in front of their eyes.

The secondary story involves Edith Buchanan, a fine upstanding but often times cold-hearted wealthy women of a prominent family who is searching for a well deserved husband complete with a high end title. When her father arranges for Lord Thynne, a single viscount to arrive at their home in hopes of a possible connection for Edith, he instead has interests in her American cousin, Katharine Dearing, an heiress to a railway fortune instead of the Ice Queen. She plots to find a way for Katharine to do something that she can use to engineer her downfall and thus enable Lord Thynne to fall in love with her instead. She makes a bet with Oliver Carmicheal, Lady Carmichael's eldest son and future baron at Chawley Abbey that if neither of them secure a better match for themselves by the close of the Great Exhibition, they will agree to marry one another.

Yet Oliver Carmichael has his own sites set on Miss Bainbridge after making a bet with his close friends at a gentlemen's club when he is snubbed and dismissed by Miss Bainbridge. He believes he will have no problem in getting her to fall in love with him, since he has never been turned down by any female in his life and wagers 100 pounds that he can do it by the day the Great Exhibition opens on May 1st.

There are so many different twists and turns in this exceptional and wonderfully written novel, you truly feel like you're at the heart of something amazing as you watch things unfold between the different classes set in this novel. You are cheering that some will get what they truly deserve and you definitely have the good and evil characters in this one. I often found myself seeing the characters of Caddy Bainbridge played by the actress, Anne Hathaway and Dr. Neal Stradbroke by Hugh Jackman, while the opposing characters Mr. Oliver Carmichael portrayed by Billy Zane and Edith Buchanan played by Charlize Theron. I can't wait to see what Kaye Dacus comes up with next and this one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the second novel in the Great Exhibition Series.  For more information about An Honest Heart, Kaye Dacus or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

An Honest Heart by Kaye Dacus

You can also find Kaye Dacus on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on An Honest Heart from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 

• Series: A Great Exhibition Novel
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433677210
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677212
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Born of Persuasion

"Later, when I allowed myself to confront the memories, to dwell on the particulars, I realized my arrival at Am Meer marked the beginning.

Not the mysterious letters that drained the life from Mama.

Not her suicide.

And not the two men arriving at dusk, stomping mud from their boots in the foyer, bearing ill tidings.

Nay-not even the disconcerting news that I had a guardian, one who intended to keep me sequestered.

For those happenings were not my story. I was sinless there. They were the end result of events set in motion long before I arrived at the cottage. I could no more have stopped their unfolding than I could have prevented my own birth.

Those of you who were alive that year might well remember the early frost of 1838. My arrival coincided with the hardship faced by farmers that August. Though harvest hadn't quite begun, an overcast sky stretched over the rolling farmlands bringing a reminder of winter's cruel bite. How well I remember the coach jostling down the familiar lane, its wheels grinding through the familiar ruts. I felt no premonition of danger, only relief, sharp and undefiled. At Am Meer, home of my dearest childhood memories, I hoped to find that which I needed most-a respite between the past and my uncertain future." (Pg 1-2).

In the beautifully written novel, Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta, she rewards readers with an enriched journey back to the early 1800's in the first novel in the Price of Privilege series. The details and poetic writing style paint the story of the life of seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston. Now faced with an unknown guardian who controls her destiny, she finds solace back in her childhood home with her close friend, Elizabeth Windham and her mother for a time. She believes in the promises made between her and her childhood sweetheart Edward, a romance forbidden by her parents due to their social standings. When he proposed to her and asked her to wait for him, she believed that he was the only hope to her current situation.

If she were to be married to Edward Auburn, she would be released from the guardianship that now holds her future as a servant in Scotland with no family to speak of. However Julia soon discovers that Edward has made some changes of his own taking on the role of the town's vicar, something that goes against Julia's atheist beliefs she was raised on. She realizes now that her only future is to find someone to marry even if it means giving up the hope that she can be happy and marry for love. For Julia there simply is no other answer.

I received Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta compliments of Tyndale House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I was completely enchanted and swept away by this novel, rich in period details that I felt like a private observer in Julia's circumstance. This was a time, when women were considered nothing more than property and their rights were never considered. The only hope for most women was to secure a future with a wealthy family through marriage to the right man in a social standing. They were expected to maintain decorum and remain silent. However Julia's fortunate to have been introduced into society through a wealthy titled dowager that opens up a world of possibilities she never dreamed possible. But will she be able to escape her past to be able to move forward in her future or are their darker forces at work than meets the eye in this story? You'll have to pick this one up to find out. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next novel Mark of Distinction that you get a sneak peek at in this one. Also included are some great discussion questions perfect for book clubs. A must read for fans of Downton Abbey and Jane Erye!

For more information about Born of Persuasion, Jessica Dotta or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

You can also find Jessica Dotta on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels. 

To read more reviews on Born of Persuasion from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, please click here.

• Series: Price of Privilege (Book 1)
• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (August 16, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414375557
• ISBN-13: 978-1414375557
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches

The Governess of Highland Hall

Little did Julia Foster realize how her time serving as a missionary in India would benefit her future as well as God's plans for her. Replying to an advertisement for a governess for two young children at Highland Hall, she hopes that securing this position will enable her to financial help her parents who have returned to London from India with her due to her father's failing health. Julia believes all the time spent running the schools and medical clinic while serving God is just the right experience to be a governess for the young children of Sir William Ramsey, who is at loss of finding just the right person to help.

On a fateful morning encounter, Julia comes across a well dressed man, she believes is the chauffeur who is struggling with getting the motor car running. She addresses the man and inquires if he might need assistance since she is on her way to an interview at Highland Hall, and they might be able to send someone to help. The man waves her off frustrated that no one will be able to help and it's only when she is sent to Sir William for the interview, she learns that man is the same one she ran into on the way into Highland Manor.

Julia's faith will be put to the utmost test when she learns that no other governess has last longer than six months, and both children have been grieving the loss of their mother and are a bit ill-mannered. Not only that but Julia is being asked to help William's deceased cousin Randolph's two teenage girls who have realized that the ownership of Highland Hall has now passed into William's hands. Having sold off his half of the business to his brother David, William learns that the financial status of Highland Hall is more than he bargained for when the death duties or taxes are due on the house in March and there is no hope for securing the funds necessary to pay for them.

Julia and William are struggling with their past issues when it comes to love, but neither of them could have ever come to expect the fondness and friendship that would develop between them, but with William's title, he could never marry someone of Julia's status. She has resolved to bide her time in the home helping out as much as she can to heal the wounds that have crippled not only the financial matters of the home, but also to the hearts of those that call Highland Hall home.

I received The Governess at Highland Hall by author Carrie Turansky compliments of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This one resounded in my book lover's heart being a fan of traditional regency and historical fiction. It's like a blending of Sound of Music with Downton Abbey. What a spectacular novel and the best part is  that Carrie has decided to add this novel to the Edwardian Bride series with this being the first one. I can't wait to see what comes next as there are so many paths she could take with the characters we meet in this lovely and charming novel. I wholeheartedly give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and it has found a permanent home in my personal library. Warning: This novel releases in early October this year, but trust me, you'll want to preorder your copy now!

For more information about The Governess of Highland Hall, Carrie Turansky or where you can preorder a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

You can also find Carrie Turansky on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Governess of Highland Hall, you can visit WaterBrook Multnomah's website by clicking here. 

• Series: Edwardian Brides
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (October 15, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601424965
• ISBN-13: 978-1601424969

Follow The Heart

Since Downton Abbey, I am officially a traditional regency fan! What does that mean? If you love historical romances set in the mid 1800's in London where social classes and marriage to a fine upstanding family are your cup of tea, then look no further than Follow The Heart by author Kaye Dacus in her Great Exhibition Series. 

The story begins in Pennsylvania in 1850 where Katharine and Christopher Dearing's lives are to be turned upside down. Their father has lost the entire family fortune in a failed investment in the railroad. Katharine's opportunity of marriage to a wealthy family has been withdrawn when they learn she has no money for a dowry and her family's name is now tarnished in their social circles. Now forced to sell most of their family's belongings to keep their head above waters, their father sends Christopher and Katharine to live with their wealthy uncle in England in hopes that both of them may secure a marriage to keep the family from losing everything.

When they arrive at their uncle's estate in England, Katharine and Christopher are treated with the same respect that their cousins receive however, they are reminded by their cousin Edith that they are the poor relations from America and it would serve them well to remember their place. Now living at Wakesdown Manor in England, Katharine tries in vain to do all she can to find the most eligible man with not only a suitable title but the means to elevate her poor family back into a social standing again. Only it seems that no matter how hard she tries, she can't fight the feelings she has for Andrew Lawton, the landscape architect that works her uncle's estate. She knows she can't fall for Andrew because to do so would be beneath what her father and stepmother wanted for her but could cause their family to lose everything back in America. Her only hope is to find someone who can look back her age and background and save her family.

Her brother Christopher is hoping that he can find a way to save the family name and fortune by finding a contact in working with the local railroad companies now coming to take part in the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. He doesn't want all the burden of saving their family to fall on Kate's shoulders even though she is far past the age of most women to marry and begin a family of their own. He hopes that using his expertise in railroad law he might find job that would allow Kate to find a man suitable for marriage that she truly loves instead of settling for money. Yet how can he hope for Kate finding true love among the lower class when he himself is falling in love with the governess Nora. Is it possible for Christopher and Katharine to find a way to save their family and still follow their heart?

I received Follow The Heart by Kaye Dacus compliments of B and H Publishing Group and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Tours for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This novel reminds me of Cinderella meets Downton Abbey, only instead of the wicked step-sisters, poor Katharine and Christopher have to deal with the oldest cousin Edith who is competing with Kate to see just who can marry the richest man possible. For Edith it isn't about love but about the title and fortune that accompany her dream of marriage. She will do almost anything to remind Katharine of just where she comes from and to prevent her from finding true happiness. I encourage you traditional regency lovers to grab a cup of tea, sit by the fire and immerse yourself in this wonderful novel created just for you by Kaye Dacus. I loved this one and the only disappointment I faced was when I turned the final page. It was over too soon and I wanted more of these characters. Good thing that Kaye is adding to this series in her upcoming novel An Honest Heart this fall.  I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and will be adding this one to my personal library.

For more information about Follow The Heart, Kaye Dacus or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Follow The Heart by Kaye Dacus

You can also find Kaye Dacus on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Follow The Heart from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (May 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433677202
• ISBN-13: 978-1433677205
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.9 x 8.3 inches 

Available at your favorite book retailer in paperback and eBook reader formats. 

Mystery of the Heart

Sometimes the beginnings for love can be found in the most unusual of circumstances. Mercy Grayson is truly thankful just to be alive. She has managed to have found the safety and security of land, after nearly being lost at sea. Now washed ashore, she wonders where she is. She looks up into the face of a man, Lord Edon, who tells her she has found her way to England and is about more than confused at the clothing she is wearing. Not what a woman would normally would, she has managed to wear a man's jacket and pants and if it were not for them, she would have drowned for sure.

She begs Lord Edon to help her find her sister, but refuses to offer any more explanation at just who she is and how she arrived washed up on the shore with no signs of a ship wreck in sight. Lord Edon tells her that the ship he is traveling on is filled with men who have the most unpure intentions if they were to know she is a woman, so he insists on cutting off her long hair to make her appear as a young lad to match the clothing and ensure her passage on the ship. He reminds her to speak to no one and to remain in his cabin until they dock.

When they arrive at the ship, she learns that Lord Edon probably saved not only her life but reputation as well keeping her identity hidden from the crew. He has her placed in his cabin under the ruse of being a valet he has found on the shore. She makes herself comfortable as best as she can, staying hidden in his cabin. While searching for a shirt to wear while her clothes dry, she comes across a wooden box that contains a spear head inside. Not sure what it is, she places the contents back in the box and covers it once more with clothing.

When the ship docks, Mercy has Lord Edon take her to her sister, Victoria's home and tells him that she is indeed royalty which he finds hard to believe. She is Lady Mercy Grayson of Ravensmoore and now the mystery is beginning to unfold as to how she found herself on the shores of North Umberland and what transpired to cause her to wind up in the ocean from Scotland. It seems both Lord Edon and Lady Grayson each have a bit of a secret each of them is hiding and neither one wants to be the first to tell their tales. Perhaps fate has dealt them each a different hand that is about to converge.

I received Mystery of the Heart by Jillian Kent compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Realm Publishers for my honest review. This is the third book in the Ravensmoore Chronicle Series and delivers its finest to true traditional regencies fans! I love reading books with a strong, determined woman character who finds her interests lie in a man's world but still wish to pursue it despite what society may deem is inappropriate for a woman. In this case studying medicine and it seems as though God has truly blessed Lady Mercy Grayson will more than just a healing touch! I rate this book a true 5 out of 5 stars and find myself a true die hard Jillian Kent fan!

For more information about Mystery of the Heart, Jillian Kent, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Mystery of the Heart by Jillian Kent

You can also find Jillian Kent on her blog to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Mystery of the Heart from the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Book Tour, please click here. 

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