Dusk's Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Life is a little busy for us lately but that didn't stop me from finding time to read. I had a quiet Saturday afternoon (following a busy, productive morning) which was the perfect time to snuggle in on the sofa and finish reading Dusk's Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller. It is the first book I have read by her and is book 1 in the new Regency Wallflowers series she is writing.

I very much enjoyed reading the book I have long been a fan of Regency literature and like the 'wallflower' spin on this one. The main character Mary is 'nine and twenty' and many assume that she will forever be alone and she is not bothered by the concept. Her father is a doctor and she spends time helping him and calling on patients, which she enjoys doing. She has that right demeanor and touch to make others comfortable and help them through childbirth and recovery from ailments. The other main character is Adam, a soldier who recently returned from the battlefield a hero of the war, faced with a new battle. He suffered an ailment at war that he must now learn to live with. Always a leader and a hero, he has to find his way in an unknown world. Growing up, Adam spent time with Mary's brother and she spent time tagging along with them on some of their adventures, so although they didn't really know one other, they did know of one another and had a small connection. Based on this connection and her ability to help, Mary's father and Adam's mother task her with helping Adam on his journey to recovery. Through many ups and downs they come to be true friends and help each other discover new things.

This story was very enjoyable and it was nice to watch the two main characters grow individually and in their relationship. The author did a great job painting the setting and developing the characters. I felt a connection to them and found myself engaged in their lives, struggles and outcomes. Watching them discover how a person's reactions to adversity reveals their true character and that what really connects us is deeper than looks. I look forward to reading more books by Carolyn Miller in the future.

About the Book

How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness?

Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England's beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it's a peaceful life.

That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary's caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer--but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he's plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?

Adam wants no charity, but he's also no coward. If this gentle woman can work hard, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and antipathy slowly develop into friendship and esteem. Then a summer storm atop a mountain peak leads to scandal--and both Mary and Adam must search the depths of their closed hearts for answers if they hope to find any future path with happiness at its end.

Best-selling author Carolyn Miller is back with a fresh series that will not only thrill readers eager for more of her work, but bring in new fans looking for beautiful writing, fascinating research, deftly woven love stories, and real faith lived out in the Regency period.

Click here to read an excerpt.

About the Author

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia with her husband and four children.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel and food.

A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn's novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers.

Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynmillerauthor.com or find her on Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author), Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor), and Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor).

Giveaway!

Enter to win a fun prize pack inspired by the book and its English setting that includes:

- a copy of Dusk’s Darkest Shores
- a canvas bag to carry your latest reads
- a fun pair of Jane Austen socks
- Novel Teas’ English Breakfast tea
- “Drink tea, read books, and be happy” tea spoon
- “Let your faith be bigger than your fear” mug
- Black currant preserves from England
- Wax Lyrical candle from England

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Giveaway is not hosted by A Busy Mom of Two but is part of the book tour, please see giveaway for official rules and guidelines. No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Where has summer gone? The kids returned to school this week and we are back to our busy school time lifestyle. As summer wound down, I wrapped up the newest book by Kristi Ann Hunter, A Defense of Honor.

A Defense of Honor is a piece of Regency Fiction, set in 1816 London and the nearby countryside. This first novel in Hunter's new Haven Manor series was a terrific story, that had a balance of suspense, compassion and love. The author does a great job transporting the reader in time and location, allowing us to feel a part of the story. The author does a great job of developing the characters at the right depth for connection with the endearing, unique characters within the story. In addition, there is a thread of humor which even further endears the reader.

The book opens at a party, Graham is bored with the status quo of the social scene and follows a flash of green that is hiding behind a potted bush, a woman who we later learn is Kit. 'Though why would a woman wear such an eye-catching color if she intended to plant herself behind the potted shrubbery all evening? Plant herself behind the shrubbery. A grin crossed Graham's face as he chuckled at his own cleverness." "His palms started to itch...It was the itch of curiosity..at last, here was something new and unusual."

From there the book takes off at a good pace and never stopped. It kept me fully engaged, as the characters paths cross paths later and the author explores the secrets going on in the book. I had a hard time putting it down, but was glad that it was a longer story that allowed me to be part of the experience for longer because even with that once I reached the end, I wanted it to continue (good thing is it is the first in a series, so another book will be coming).

The story line was more unique than most of the period fiction books that I have read in the past. Even in those stories where the characters have a cause, they are less immersed in it than in this story. The women in this story have created Haven Manor into a world of it's own. The manor is filled with delightful, innocent, charming children, who despite their challenged background, of which they are unaware, they are being raised with love, the benefit of education exposure to art and music and life skills that will allow them to support themselves as adults.

Kit's love and concern for the mothers and children that she helped was sincere, but since it was fueled through guilt she found herself justifying underhanded methods of providing for the children and the manor. It wasn't until the wrongness of the actions were pointed out by Graham that she reflected upon her actions, the way that she had justified the actions and devised a plan to undo the wrongs she had done to redeem herself. The book dealt with forgiveness, redemption, the issue of rejection, the challenges of societal norms and the reliance on God to see you through difficult situations.

Overall, it was a great story. It found balance in the threads of secrets and mystery, friendship and love, and forgiveness and redemption. Hunter writes an engaging story and I can't wait to read more.

About the Book:
When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and to raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. But as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, the risk of revealing the truth may come at too high a price for those she loves.

About the Author:
Kristi Ann Hunter is the author of the Hawthorne House series and a 2016 RITA Award winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for excellence winner. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books that I have read by Kristi Ann Hunter and would highly recommend you check them out. I personally can't wait for book 2 in the Haven Manor series to see what comes next in the lives of the characters that I met and came to know in A Defense of Honor.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I have been jumping between genres recently and this past week have been reading a piece of Edwardian fiction, in which I have been deeply engrossed - A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White. A Song Unheard is the second book in the Shadows Over England series and is set primarily in Wales in 1914. This story is a stand alone story, but if you had a chance to read the first book in the series, A Name Unknown, this book offers a chance to catch a brief glimpse of those main characters, but more so, focused on the story of another member of the family.

Willa has a love for music, spending time catching practices of the symphony in London and playing on a well-loved violin. So when Mr. V offers a role that has her spending time with famed violinist Lukas De Wilde to locate a highly sought cypher key, she knows that she is the right person for the job. The author did a good job developing characters through the progression of the story, continuing to reveal things about some of the characters right up to the end of the story. Lukas is intrigued with Willa the moment he sees her on the street, assessing the building in ways similar to how he has seen his sister assess things. When he learns that she is a violin prodigy, he offers her lessons as a way to get to know her and spend more time with her. Willa is determined not to follow the path that Rosemary did and fall for her target, but she needs to spend time to get to know him to get close enough to locate and steal the cypher key.

Suspense and danger is woven throughout the story. We get the sense of the danger faced by Willa when she finds herself not alone on her quest and the ongoing danger faced by Lukas' family who is hiding out from the soldiers, even with one sharing the same house. When it seems that she will not succeed in completing the job and is caught in a place she shouldn't be, Willa confesses to Lukas and changes the dynamic between them. The story isn't over at that point though bringing more into the story as the danger intensifies and more secrets come out, making the story even that much more intriguing.

Through her vivid descriptions of the settings, both internal and external, the author is able to transport the reader to another time and place. Her story was so engaging that I found myself not wanting to put the book down, resulting in me yet again staying up later than I should simply so I can read a little more. The book had the perfect balance of danger, friendship and courtship, romance, mystery, deception, intrigue and faith.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

About the Book:
If Betraying Her Heart Means Saving Countless Lives, Will She Find the Courage?

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a critical task at the outset of World War I--to secure a crucial cypher key from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only distraction he finds from his worry is in meeting the intriguing and talented Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find that key, or her own family could pay the same price his surely has.

About The Author:
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, designing book covers, editing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I took a break from reading over the holidays. There was family time and baking and lots of tv series and movie binge watching. I missed it, but with everything else there simply wasn't time. As the holidays wound down, I was glad to realize that I had Out of the Ordinary, part of the Apart from the Crowd series by Jen Turano to read. I have read the earlier books in the series, but certainly you don't need to have read them. I loved catching up a bit and learning more about some of the characters that I had met in the earlier stories.

This Regency romance did not disappoint. It was full of quirky characters and mysterious situations. There were those that held the standards of society as the norm and those that eschewed it (or perhaps were oblivious to it) at every turn. There was the development of a friendship that evolved to be more, almost without recognition by those involved. There was revelation of secrets and healing through sharing and conversation. I think that hanging out with Harrison, Asher, Permilia, and Gertrude would be fun.

If you enjoy period fiction, or just a good story, I recommend this book (and the others in this series too).

About

"With all the charm of a Regency romance, the humor of a drawing room farce, and the swoonworthy delight of a fairy tale, Turano's first Apart from the Crowd historical absolutely sparkles."--Publishers Weekly on Behind the Scenes

Working as a paid companion may be quite commonplace, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader's eccentric employer makes her job unpredictable, to say the least. She finds herself carrying out an array of highly unusual tasks, including wearing peculiar outfits and returning items the woman pilfered. But when the wealthy Mrs. Sinclair catches Gertrude sneaking around the Sinclair yacht with some of the missing items in her possession, she immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair is caught in the middle of a misunderstanding between his mother and Gertrude, but he can't help coming to his friend's defense. Even as he hopes their friendship might become something more, Harrison is unprepared for the outlandish escapades that seem to follow the lovely, anything-but-ordinary Gertrude at every turn.

Jen Turano is the USA Today bestselling author of nine books and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

The weather here has been unseasonably warm lately, with temperatures hitting the 90s last weekend, but fortunately, the weather has returned to more fall like weather. I love fall weather, it is the perfect time of year to sit on the porch or curled up on the sofa reading a book. Of course, yesterday, with only 100 pages to go in An Inconvenient Beauty, I found myself sitting at the table and reading while I enjoyed a nice hot cup of pumpkin spice coffee and getting up only to make another cup of coffee.

I thoroughly enjoyed An Inconvenient Beauty and couldn't put it down. In fact, when I did put it down after reading all 379 pages, my daughter commented 'didn't you just start that book'...as I closed the book and exclaimed 'I can't believe that was the last one in the series, I want it to go on!' It really was a great story, that was well written and had great scene and character development. Having met Griffith and the rest of the family in an Uncommon Courtship, which was the third in the four book series, I was glad to get to know him better. His family is the type of family that anyone would be happy to be part of, a group that is there for support and guidance, a group that knows how to play and have fun together, and a family that loves to pick on one another but would not fail to support one another.

Isabella and her cousin Frederica were well developed characters and both had to overcome adversity. Isabella not only had her challenges at home, problems she was hoping to solve with her time in London, but the added complexity of the role her uncle expected her to play and the threats he held over her. Freddie had only her father to deal with, but she clearly had a strong character having survived the loss of her mother and brother, but also as evidenced in the way she carried herself and the role she played in helping the right things happen.

Reading a story from an era with very different societal norms and expectations is always interesting to me. Despite recognizing how different of a time it was for women, there is still something so intriguing to me. On one hand, I think it would be so fun to get dressed up and go out to events, but I think that by the end of a season I would be well beyond interested in dressing up and putting on my 'social face'. I think that the idea of having a chaperone with you at all times as you court seems a bit extreme (and how boring for the chaperone!), but love how innocent courting was - filled with visits to see art and walks in the park.

An Inconvenient Beauty is a great reminder that sometimes the best way to find love is to not look for it. In fact, even when you are avoiding it (or someone), a love that is meant to be will find a way (and likely make you appreciate it more).

About the Book:

Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, so he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. While he's certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, she is strangely elusive, and he can't seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.

Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, she has no choice but to agree to a bargain that puts her at odds with all her romantic hopes--as well as her conscience. And the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she regrets the unpleasant obligation that prevents her from any dream of a future with him.

As all Griffith's and Isabella's long-held expectations are shaken to the core, can they set aside their pride and fear long enough to claim a happily-ever-after?

About the Author:

Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in computer science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is the author of the Hawthorne House series and a 2016 RITA Award winner and Christy Award finalist. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.

I have only read the last two books in the series, but I would highly recommend reading the Hawthorne House series by Kristi Ann Hunter. I intend to pick up the first two books myself, so that I can read them.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

It has been a while since I have read a piece of Edwardian fiction, but these past couple of weeks I have been deeply engrossed in A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White. A Name Unknown is the first book in the Shadows Over England series and is set primarily in Cornwall in 1914.

The author did a good job developing characters through the progression of the story, continuing to reveal things about some of the characters right up to the end of the story. Rosemary and Peter are an unconventional pair, she is poor, opinionated, streetwise and independent, and full of doubt when it comes to faith, he is rich, inclined to not speak his thoughts, has friends that look to him for advise and is strong in his faith. As the story unfolds, the reader starts to recognize the growing relationship between them and may even know they are falling in love before they do. Through her vivid descriptions of the settings, both internal and external, the author is able to transport the reader to another time and place. Her story was so engaging and that I found myself not wanting to put the book down, resulting in me yet again staying up later than I should simply so I can read a little more. The book had the perfect balance of an unlikely friendship, romance, mystery, deception, intrigue and faith.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

About the book:

She's out to steal his name. Will he steal her heart instead?
Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they are no longer pickpockets-now they focus on high value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. Rosemary's challenge of a lifetime comes when she's assigned to determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?
Rumors swirl around Peter Holstein. Awkward and solitary, but with access to the king, many fear his influence. But Peter can't help his German last name and wants to prove his loyalty to the crown-so he can go back to anonymously writing a series of popular adventure novels. When Rosemary arrives on his doorstop pretending to be a well- credentialed historian, Peter believes she's the right person to help him dig through his family's past.
Anger and danger continue to mount, though, and both realize they're in a race against time to discover the truth-about Peter's past and about the undeniable attraction kindling between them.
Learn more and purchase a copy.


About the author:

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of over a dozen historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her British series. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to make their way into her novels . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly boring. She passes said boring life with her husband and kids in the beautiful mountains of eastern West Virginia.
Find out more about Roseanna M. at http://www.roseannamwhite.com.

You can read more reviews and learn more about the book on the Blog Tour Landing Page.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

A Love So True by Melissa Jagears

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

What a busy couple of weeks I have had. Travel has been the name of the adventure. In the past 25 days, I have stayed in 5 different hotels in 5 different cities; traveling to two by air and three by car - that's a lot of travel for someone who is content to be home. The short trips have been for family vacations/sports and the long ones for work. I had great plans of reading while I traveled, but of course, there is something about riding in a car or airplane that causes me to do a mix of snoozing and reading. On the last flight I took though, I was successful in staying awake and finishing A Love So True by Melissa Jagears.

A Love So True is the third book in the Teaville Moral Society series and brings us to Teaville, Kansas in the fall of 1908. Although this is the third book in the series, there is nothing lost in not having read the first two, except perhaps the chance to visit with old friends that reappear across the series. The author does a great job of introducing us to the characters, revealing enough about the characters to help us get to know them with the right balance of opportunity to learn about them alongside the other characters.

Evelyn is a strong and independent woman. She is seemingly uninterested in allowing any man to get close enough to court her and we learn that it is as a result of a closely guarded secret that even her parents and closest friends are unaware she is keeping. With her love of children and as a result of her secret, she believes that she will not have the opportunity to be a mother, a belief that contributes to the amount of passion that she has for helping the kids at the orphanage and the women of the red light district. New to town, David finds Evelyn and her passion intriguing and looks for ways to spend time with her and to help her on her mission to help those in need.

The story featured a nice mix of compassion, friendship. love and mystery. The plot was engaging and made the book difficult to put down. The characters were easy to relate to and the type that you wanted only the best for. The touch of romance and mystery were enjoyable and added to the appeal of the story. Will we ever learn her secret? Will those around her find the secret as horrible as she feels it is? Will she be able to move past the secret and find happiness before David's work in town is done? The characters find themselves realizing that God has a plan and that although we may wonder and wish, sometimes things don't happen on our timeline, because they need to happen on His to fulfill the bigger plan.

I found this story to be a good read and if you enjoy period fiction or a good love story, would recommend checking it out.

About

Evelyn Wisely loves working at the local orphanage, but her heart can't ignore the women of Teaville who are also in need. Her boss is willing to help build a shelter for them, but only if she gains the cooperation and financial support of other local businessmen.

While David Kingsman plans to stay in Teaville just long enough to get his father's business back on solid ground, he's intrigued by Evelyn's cause and finds himself more invested with each passing day.

Will their plans and partnership fall apart when confronted with all that is stacked against them, or can they trust in God's plan despite it all?


The Author

Melissa Jagears

Carol Award-winning author Melissa Jagears is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian historical romance into the wee hours of the night. She's the author of the Unexpected Brides series, the Teaville Moral Society series, and Love by the Letter, a free prequel ebook novella. You can learn more about Melissa, her books, and where she hangs out online at www.melissajagears.com.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

With a sudden return of winter weather to our area, I found myself with some time to curl up and read. This time, the book of choice was The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller. This is the debut novel by Carolyn Miller and also the first in the Regency Brides A Legacy of Grace series. This piece of Regency Era fiction, set in 1813 was well written and has me looking forward to learning more about it's characters in the future books in the series.

I loved the character of Lavinia Ellison, or Livvie, as her friends know her. She is a well-educated young woman, who is a talented pianist and vocalist and one who is not afraid to speak her mind. She recognizes that she lives in a world with strict social divisions, but in spite of that she finds pleasure in helping the servants keep up with weeding the garden, tending to the needs of the poor in the village and to engage in conversation on all matters with the Earl, who has recently returned to the village of St. Hampton Heath. There is something about her lack of worry about the norms of society, her educated view on life and her almost quiet assertiveness that I was able to relate to. I love that unlike even her dearest of friends, because of her character and her up bringing, she was not focused on the latest fashions, the social scene and finding a husband...

"She could hide nothing. Like the fact she now enjoyed his company. Which was just as well, because he enjoyed hers. She was interesting, well-read, able to converse on all matters of life. How refreshing to speak to a young woman whose topics of conversation were not limited to the latest fashions or gossip about others. And her quiet absorption in his conversation had led him to open his heart as he never had before." (p 170)

...and it was as though that lack of focus and her intelligence were exactly what made her so attractive. Of course, there always has to be a foil to an easy boy meets girl story. In this case, it was of course the difference in their station - him an Earl and her merely the daughter of the reverend. I was not surprised at the change in environment when the Earl's mother arrived at his house and decided to invite over friends, whose daughters were a better match for the Earl in her mind. She definitely was not about to let her son fall for the daughter of the reverend and did her best to intervene.

I was at first a little bit disappointed to learn about the family secret that was revealed to Liviana as she dealt with disappointment in herself and the loneliness that ensued. It felt like too neat of a turn at first, but the author did a great job using it to help unwind the story without allowing it to become a truth that made all the rest neatly fall in place. The story wrapped in a great fashion, almost in spite of the turn of the family secret, leaving me wanting for more. I guess the good news is that the next book in this series is set to be available this summer and I can continue to learn more about this set of characters from the Regency Era.

If you enjoy period fiction, and more specifically Regency Era fiction, I would recommend this book to you.

About the book:

Handsome appearance counts for naught unless matched by good character and actions.

That's the firm opinion of not-so-meek minister's daughter Lavinia Ellison. So even though all the other villagers of St. Hampton Heath are swooning over the newly returned seventh Earl of Hawkesbury, she is not impressed. If a man won't take his responsibilities seriously and help those who are supposed to be able to depend on him, he deserves no respect from her. In Lavinia's pretty, gray eyes, Nicholas Stamford is just as arrogant and reckless as his brother-who stole the most important person in Livvie's world.

Nicholas is weighed down by his own guilt and responsibility, by the pain his careless brother caused, and by the legacy of war he's just left. This quick visit home to St. Hampton Heath will be just long enough to ease a small part of that burden. Asking him to bother with the lives of the villagers when there's already a bailiff on the job is simply too much to expect.
That is, until the hoydenish, intelligent, and very opinionated Miss Ellison challenges him to see past his pain and pride. With her angelic voice in his head, he may even be beginning to care. But his isn't the only heart that needs to change.
These two lonely hearts may each have something the other needs. But with society's opposition, ancestral obligations, and a shocking family secret, there may be too many obstacles in their way.

Fans of Georgette Heyer, Lori Wick, and Julie Klassen will enjoy the spirited exchanges between the bluestocking minister's daughter and the bruised war hero as they move past pride and presumption to a humbled appreciation of God's grace and the true strength of love.


Learn more and purchase a copy here.

About the author:

Carolyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn's novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers.

Learn more about the book and read additional reviews on the Blog Tour Landing Page.


No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

The weather here in Ohio has been unseasonably warm which has been wonderful, but with the early dark fall of winter, I have still found ample opportunities to read. Most recently, I have been reading An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter.

About the book:

Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier he is not the duke in the family. Free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, he has grand plans of someday wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he barely knows, his dream of a loving marriage like his parents' seems lost forever.

Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier when she hid in her older sister's shadow--which worked until her sister got married. But even with her socially ambitious mother's focus entirely on her, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience before she's been introduced to society.

With nothing going as expected, can Trent and Adelaide's marriage of obligation survive their own missteps and the pressures of London society to grow into a true meeting of hearts and minds?

The story is filled with challenges, growth and romance. It starts with a marriage of two young people that barely know one another and although they don't follow traditional paths, with effort and focus and a little help from family and friends, the young couple is able to slowly build a relationship and begin the journey to love.

This piece of period fiction, Regency fiction to be exact, was a wonderful story with memorable characters. The author does a great job of developing the characters and helping you feel a connection to the endearing, unique characters within the story. I found myself easily relating to the shy, book-loving Adelaide whose fidgets left something on her out of sorts by the end of the evening and cheering Trent along as he warmed to the awry portions of his wife's appearance and found himself looking for ways to protect his wife from the interference of her mother and the less than scrupulous men that seemed to cross her path. The class system of the era was a huge influence on the story and there were some characters who were so focused on the societal standing that they were willing to hurt their own family members to assure their own status, yet still there were some characters were more focused on family and acceptance and worried little about their status.

I didn't know it when I selected the book, but it is the third book in her Hawthorne House series. The good news is it works well as a stand alone novel and although I am a fan of following the lives of those I meet in earlier books, I don't feel like I missed out on anything by starting with the third book...of course, I would like to go back and read the first two. I know that I know where those couples wind up based on this book, but I think it would still be enjoyable to go back and learn more about them.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M White

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I love when I read a book and find myself totally transported to another time and place. When the book is so good that I can't put it down and stay up later that I should simply so I can read a little more and try to 'help' the characters uncover the truth before they find themselves or their loved ones in danger. A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna White was just that type of book. Her story was so engaging that I simply wanted to keep reading. As with the The Lost Heiress, this third book in the Ladies of the Manor series had the perfect balance of romance, adventure, mystery, intrigue, deception and faith. Even though this was the third book in the series, it very much so can be read on it's own. I have read the first book in the series and somehow missed reading the second, but would like to go back and read it (even out of sequence).

Her character development and scene setting was terrific, so much so, that I was pulled into the story, I felt almost like I was living the story along with the characters. I loved seeing glimpses into the ongoing stories of the characters that we met in the earlier books and of course, further development of some of the characters that we simply met in the earlier stories. I loved Ella's determination and Cayton's softer, creative side. Seeing them each interact with Cayton's daughter was endearing.

As each character grew during the story, they found pathways that were much different than they might have originally expected. As the story concluded, I found that I really enjoyed the way that the story concluded and the curse of the Fire Eyes resolved in a fantastic way, helping to ensure that others would not fall into the danger of the curse.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, I would recommend checking out this book (and the rest of the series, for that matter).

About

Amid the Unforgettable Cotswolds, the Final Grasp for the Fire Eyes Diamonds Could Threaten Them All

Lady Ella Myerston can always find a reason to smile--even if it's just in hope that tomorrow will be better than today. All her life everyone has tried to protect her from the realities of the world, but Ella knows very well how the dangerous Fire Eyes diamonds have haunted her brother and their friends, and she won't wait for peril to strike again. She intends to take action . . . and if that happens to involve an adventurous trip to the Cotswolds, then so much the better.

Lord James Cayton has already broken two hearts, including that of his first wife, who died before he could convince himself to love her. Now he's determined to live a better life . . . but that proves complicated when old acquaintances pull Cayton into their desperate attempt to seize the jewels. He does his best to remove the intriguing Lady Ella from danger, but the stubborn girl won't budge. How else can he redeem himself, though, but by saving her--and his daughter--from those intent on destroying them all?

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

A Beauty Refined by Tracie Peterson

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Summer has been a relaxing and enjoyable time for me this year. I feel like there is a lack of time, but yet somehow, it feels like we are doing a lot. One thing that has been limited, but very enjoyable when I have the time is reading. Most recently, I finished reading A Beauty Refined by Tracie Peterson. I didn't realize it (even though it is clearly noted on the cover), but this is the second book in the Sapphire Brides series. I must admit, I have never read anything by Tracie Peterson before, so I was not familiar with her work, but learned on her website that she has over 100 titles to her credit.

I enjoyed reading A Beauty Refined. The historical setting of Montana in the early 1900s was the backdrop for this tale of discovering the truth and the faith needed to face it. The author did a nice job of developing the landscape for the story, including the hotel that once was and was once again. I enjoyed reading about Phoebe's clothes, many of which were the latest fashion. Despite the fact that the thought of wearing the accoutrements associated with the fashion of that day do not appeal to me, there is something so fun about the thought that there were clothes for each type of day and even for the different 'occasions' of the day. How often do you get to dress for dinner?

I must admit that I had to make a small effort to overcome the coincidence of Phoebe and her father arriving in Helena at the same hotel where her mother now worked. I recognize that without that coincidence, there would have been no story, but in the early 1900s it seemed a little bit of stretched opportunity for the German Count and his daughter.

As the story unfolded and Phoebe began to learn that what she had always held as true, was not actually her reality, I really felt for her. The reader journeyed with her as she went through the stages of denial, recognition of the signs, many that she had dismissed, that supported the truth, and the recognition of the truth for what it was It takes exploration of her faith to allow her to come to terms with this new reality and in that journey, she finds that Ian is the one she can turn to and becomes a more important part of her life.

If you enjoy historical fiction and a touch of romance, A Beauty Refined is a book that you should consider reading. I am curious to check out some of the other historical fiction stories written by Tracie Petterson.

A Beauty Refined
by Tracie Peterson
Historical Romance
Bethany House

What does it take to reveal the true beauty of a hidden gem?

Phoebe Von Bergen, the daughter of a German count, is excited to visit America for the first time while her father purchases sapphires in Helena, Montana. Little does she know, however, that her father's intentions---both for her and the gemstones---are not what she thinks.

Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the dignified young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing. 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.

Meeting Ian has changed everything for Phoebe, and she begins to consider staying in America, regardless of her father's plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger that results when her family's deception begins to unravel.

Meet the Author
Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana, and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Find more information about her and her other books on her website.

See more reviews and learn more about the book on the Blog Tour Landing Page.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Playing the Part by Jen Turano

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I recently finished reading Playing the Part by Jen Turano, I didn't realize it when I started but quickly came to discover that some of the characters that I had first met in In Good Company the first book that I had read by Jen Turano. Even before I discovered that it was next book in the series, I was looking forward to reading this book, as I like the style of Jen Turano and enjoy the historical fiction set in America.

Playing the Part has a great balance of romance, mystery, and humor. The author did a great job bringing the eccentric characters to life and it was hard not to fall in love with all the characters (well except for Silas and Nigel). I love the way that the author presented the characters and their quirkiness and then through the telling of the story starts to reveal what makes them who they are. As Bram and Lucetta begin to learn more about the other, they discover that first impressions are not always so reliable. Almost to the final page, the reader continues to learn more about the characters. I love that Millie returned in this story, even if only for a short portion of the story, with her dictionary and 'big words'. Every time she used a big word and then proceeded to tell her friends what it meant, it made me chuckle.

The setting for this story is primarily at Bram's castle, which is in part it's own 'character' with it's motley crew of staff, animals, unique structures, the suspicion that it is haunted and even a dungeon. The castle makes a perfect backdrop for this story, helping to move the story along and allowing us to get to know the real side of the characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by Jen Turano.

About the book:

Playing the Part (Bethany House, March 2016)

Can they accept who they are behind the parts they play in time to save the day?

Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but is forced to abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucetta's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, is delighted at the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to her grandson's estate to hide out.

Bram Haverstein may appear to simply be a somewhat eccentric gentleman of means, but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows.

Lucetta, who has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, has the best intentions of remaining cordial but coolly distant to Bram. But when she can't ignore the strange and mysterious things going on in his house, it'll take more than good intentions to keep her from trying to discover who Bram is behind the part he plays.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1RQM4QD

About the author:


Jen Turano, author of the Ladies of Distinction series and the A Class of Their Own series, is a graduate of the University of Akron. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado.

Website | Facebook

Check out more reviews and learn more about the book on the blog tour landing page.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I have read a number of books by Shelley Gray, but to date, most of them have been Amish fiction. A few months back, I got the chance to read her novella An Outlaw's Heart as part of the book, Among the Fair Magnolias. So, when I saw that she had a new book coming out that was period fiction, I was excited for the opportunity to read it.

Whispers in the Reading Room is set in Chicago in 1893. It turns out that it was the third in the A Chicago World's Fair Mystery series. Fortunately, there was no need to have read the earlier works to thoroughly enjoy this one.

Even from the first chapter, I was drawn into the story and found myself wanting to read more. There were evenings that went a little later than planned, as I convinced myself to read just one more chapter (and then perhaps another) so that I could see what happened next. My husband even made fun of me as I attempted to read a few pages on a short car ride to lunch one afternoon.

As with her other works, this story has great character development. Through the course of the story, I came to know the main characters and yet, they still managed to surprise me in their action.

I frequently find passages that strike me, but rarely share them. In this case, I tabbed the corner, because it was something that I really could relate to, that feeling when you finish a book.

"She still remembered the expression on his face last week when he'd finished and closed the last tome. He'd looked pleased and just a bit melancholy. She knew those dual feelings well - the satisfaction of completing a well-written piece of literature while also coming to terms with the fact that those few moments of pure bliss would soon be replaced with longing for more."

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to those that love period history and those that love stories of mystery and love.

About the book:

Whispers in the Reading Room (Zondervan, November 2015)

Lydia's job at the library is her world---until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks-the man so many people fear-is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

Purchase a copy here.

About the author:

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.

Connect with Shelley: website, Twitter, and Facebook

You can learn more about the book and find other reviews on the blog tour landing page.


No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

The Lost Heiress by Roseanna White

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

There is nothing like a good book to transport you. With the lovely days that we are having, I find myself sitting on the porch or in the kitchen with the gentle breeze blowing and as I begin to read my book, I find that I am suddenly somewhere else - another time, another place. The story line so engaging that I simply don't want to put the book down. I know that there is laundry to do and dishes to wash, but that can surely wait. Who attacked Brook and what were they after? Would Justin and Brook recognize what they have before it is too late? What exactly was in that journal and what would it reveal about their lives?

Those were some of my thoughts as I enjoyed reading The Lost Heiress this past week. I really enjoyed the read. It is the first book that i have read by Roseanna White, but it will not be my last. She did a good job developing characters through the progression of the story, revealing things about some of the characters right up to the end of the story. Her story was so engaging that I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I needed to know what happened next - there was never a good spot to stop. It had the perfect balance of romance, adventure, mystery, intrigue, deception and faith.

I thoroughly enjoyed the setting in Edwardian England. I still am fascinated by the idea that the women wore multiple dresses a day and that they had a ladies maid to help them with clothing changes and doing their hair. I loved that Brook was ahead of her time and although every bit the lady, had a bit of a wild streak and a love of adventure running through her blood. Character traits that allowed her to persevere.

This book was the first in a new series, Ladies of the Manor. I can't wait for the next story.

About the book:

The Lost Heiress
Ladies of the Manor, Book 1

Brook Eden has never known where she truly belongs. Though raised in the palace of Monaco, she’s British by birth and was brought to the Grimaldis under suspicious circumstances as a babe. When Brook’s friend Justin uncovers the fact that Brook is likely a missing heiress from Yorkshire, Brook leaves the sun of the Mediterranean to travel to the moors of the North Sea to the estate of her supposed family.

The mystery of her mother’s death haunts her, and though her father is quick to accept her, the rest of the family and the servants of Whitby Park are not. Only when Brook’s life is threatened do they draw close—but their loyalty may come too late to save Brook from the same threat that led to tragedy for her mother.

As heir to a dukedom, Justin is no stranger to balancing responsibilities. When the matters of his estate force him far from Brook, the distance between them reveals that what began as friendship has grown into something much more. But how can their very different loyalties and responsibilities ever come together?

And then, for a second time, the heiress of Whitby Park is stolen away because of the very rare treasure in her possession—and this time only the servants of Whitby can save her.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Among the Fair Magnolias #LoveStories #Review

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I've discovered a new love and yet I find it frustrating too! What you ask? Novellas. Short Stories.

I recently had the chance to read Among the Fair Magnolias, a collection of four period fiction novellas. Three of the stories were captivating and I quickly joined into the lives of the main characters (it says Southern Women, but I feel that An Outlaw's heart is as much, if not more, about Russell than Nora). It was satisfying to pick up the book and read the story in one sitting. The novellas were each around 90 pages, perfect for a quick read. However, when I got to the end, I was so bummed that it was over already...as I had already become invested in the story and wanted to know more.

I want to clarify, as I say three of the stories were captivating and the book contains four novellas. For whatever reason, the one story just was difficult for me to quickly engage in - I read it, but the experience was not the same for me as it was with the other stories. I will not dwell on this, because the overall book is great.

I think my favorite story was To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander. There was just something about Savannah that I found hard to resist. I haven't read any other stories by Tamera Alexander, but based on this short, I would love to check out some of her other books.

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray was the first, non-Amish work that I have read by her. She is one of my favorite current authors and I find all of her works to have great character development and a story the reader can easily engage in; this story was no different.

If you enjoy period fiction and if you enjoy a quick read, like this busy mom, then I recommend checking out Among the Fair Magnolias.

About the book:
Among the Fair Magnolias (Thomas Nelson, July 2015)

In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women---destinies forged by birth, hearts steeled by war---face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love.

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
Savannah Darby would do almost anything to revisit her family home. So when new owner, Aidan Bedford, a Boston attorney and former Union soldier, seeks to redecorate the house for his fiancée, Savannah jumps at the opportunity. But the clock is ticking. Can she find the box her father supposedly hid there during the war before her assignment is completed? And before she sees yet another battle lost on the home front. This time, one of the heart.

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray
When Russell Stark returns to Fort Worth, he's determined to begin a new life. But when he arrives at his mother's homestead, he discovers she's very ill, and the woman he loved is still as beautiful and sweet as he remembered. With time running out, Russell must come to terms with both his future and his past.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail knows all too well what is expected of her: to marry her distant cousin Charles and take her place in society. But her heart belongs to another. A terrible incident forces Abby to choose between love and duty.

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
Emily has a secret: She's in love with one of the freedmen on her family's plantation. Meanwhile, another man declares his love for her. Emily realizes some things are not as they seem and secrets must be kept in order to keep those she loves safe.

Purchase a copy here.

About the authors:

Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of numerous books including A Lasting Impression and The Inheritance. Tamera is a two-time Christy Award winner, two-time RITA winner, and a recipient of the prestigious Library Journal Award. A native of west Tennessee. website, Twitter, Facebook

Dorothy Love makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their golden retriever. An award-winning author of numerous young adult novels, Dorothy made her adult debut with the Hickory Ridge novels. website, Twitter, Facebook

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. website, Twitter, Facebook

Elizabeth Musser, a native of Atlanta, Georgia now living in France, is a novelist who writes what she calls 'entertainment with a soul.' For over 25 years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in mission work with International Teams. website, Twitter, Facebook

Learn more about the book, the authors and read other reviews on the Blog Tour page.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

In Good Company by Jen Turano #BookReview

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Last week during my garage sale, the mailman came to the door with several packages and one of them was the new book by Jen Turano - In Good Company. I started to read the book during a lull in the sale and was hooked immediately. I found myself picking it up when I had a few minutes between people stopping at the sale. There was just something so compelling the story that Jen Turano was telling. It wasn't one of those books where you needed to read a few chapters to get started, I was drawn in before I finished reading the first chapter and it just kept pulling me along.

The book In Good Company is set in 1882 in New York City and Newport. The first chapter of the story introduces us to Millie Longfellow, a young lady that is determined to be the best nanny but seemingly has found herself in a bit of trouble and being dismissed from her job, again. When Everett Mulberry finds himself in need of care for the three children that he has been given guardianship of because yet another nanny has quit, the agency pairs them up...giving them each one last chance, each other.

Millie has a way with the children and though her methods are called into question, she proves that she knows what she is doing when she able to find a way to get the children to not only cooperate but to begin to be the children that Everett remembers from visiting them at their home. As Everett spends more time with Millie and around the children, his perspective on what matters most evolves.

The author did a wonderful job bringing the loveable (and not so loveable) characters to life in the story. As a reader, I was compelled to continue reading (just one more page) to find out what would happen to them next, so much so that I was almost late to work one morning because I wanted to read just one chapter before heading out for the day and found myself four pages into the next before I forced myself to put the book down. We learn bits of their past to gain insight, but the story remains focused on their interactions and conversations.

This was a well written piece of period fiction. I enjoyed the references to Jane Austen and the parallels that they drew. I was amused by Millie's continued referencing of her dictionary and her attempt to insert 'big' words into her conversations. I am currently reading Anne of Green Gables with my daughter, and Millie's use of words reminded me a lot of Anne.

I found out after reading the book that it is actually the second in a series (clearly, nothing lost by reading them out of order - as I thoroughly enjoyed this book on its own). I look forward to reading the first book in the series, as well as other books by this author. In reading about her, I learned that she went to school very close to where I live. She doesn't live here now, but it is still a connection.

From the book cover:

After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position.

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he's desperate for competent childcare.

At wit's end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance--with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children's parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

You can learn more about the author and her other books on her website.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

One of the joys of the holidays is not only having time to spend with family and to relax, but it also means time for extra reading (and watching sappy holiday movies - but that seems to be more limited as my kids get older and don't want to watch with me and don't go to bed as early).

As the holidays approached this year, I started reading The Secret of Pembrooke Park, by Julie Klassen. I have previous read The Dancing Master (you can see my review here), also by Julie Klassen and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I had high hopes for The Secret of Pembrooke Park (it did not disappoint!). As I began to read the book, I discovered that not only was this period literature with some tales of romance, but also a mystery! I have long been a fan of mysteries and to have one set against the background of England in the early 1800s was awesome.

The characters were wonderfully developed in this story. Of course, there were some facts about the characters that were not fully disclosed and others that were revealed in time, by design since the story was in part a mystery. I quickly found myself worrying about Abigail's safety and second guessing whether she could trust those that were around her. What was their history and what did they want with Abigail and her family? I worried about whether she would find love and more importantly, the right love for her.

The mystery and the intrigue that the author developed really pulled me in to the story. I found myself wanting to read "just one more chapter" (and they weren't short) before calling it a night. I even took the book to the gym with me and walked on the treadmill, instead of running, so that I wouldn't lose that time and could continue to read the book. My son was impressed that I managed to read the over 450 page book over the course of a few days, but with as good as the story was, I simply didn't want to put it down.

From the back cover:

Abigail Foster is the practical daughter. She fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry, and the one man she thought might marry her seems to have fallen for her younger, prettier sister.

Facing financial ruin, Abigail and her father search for more affordable lodgings, until a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for eighteen years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play . . .

The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem acquainted with the manor's past, the only information they offer is a stern warning: Beware trespassers drawn by rumors that Pembrooke Park contains a secret room filled with treasure.

This catches Abigail's attention. Hoping to restore her family's finances—and her dowry—Abigail looks for this supposed treasure. But eerie sounds at night and footprints in the dust reveal she isn't the only one secretly searching the house.

As old friends and new foes come calling at Pembrooke Park, secrets come to light. Will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks . . . or very real danger?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it if you enjoy period literature, romance and mystery. I look forward to reading more books my Julie Klassen.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Sarah E. Ladd's A Lady at Willowgrove Hall

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.
Recently, I had the opportunity to read A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, by Sarah E. Ladd. The book was set in England in the early 1800s. Historical fiction is a genre that I find very enjoyable. I'm not sure I fully understand the intricacies of the class structure, but still I find it intriguing. The properness of the relationships and the interaction between men and women is very interesting. There is something inherently romantic about period literature from my perspective.

I really enjoyed the book. From the beginning, the reader was brought right into the story and felt a quick connection with the characters. The author did a fine job developing the characters. The secrets that they held were slowly revealed, as needed to better understand the characters.

Reading this book left me wanting to read more period pieces and I certainly will check out the other works by Sarah E. Ladd. In fact, after completing the book, I discovered that it was actually the third book in the series.

If you enjoy period pieces or romances, I would recommend you read this book.

About the book:

Her secret cloaks her in isolation and loneliness.

His secret traps him in a life that is not his own.

Cecily Faire carries the shame of her past wherever she treads, knowing one slip of the tongue could strip away everything she holds dear. But soon after accepting the position of lady's companion at Willowgrove Hall, Cecily finds herself face-to-face with a man well-acquainted with the past she's desperately hidden for years.

Nathaniel Stanton has a secret of his own --- one that has haunted him from birth and tied him to his father's position as steward of Willowgrove. To protect his family, Nathaniel dares not breath a word of the truth. But as long as the shadow looms over him, he'll never be free to find his own way in the world. He'll never be free to fall in love.

When the secrets swirling within Willowgrove Hall come to light, Cecily and Nathaniel must confront a painful choice: Will they continue running from the past . . . or will they stand together and build a future without the suffocating weight of secrets long suffered?

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/CsnBw

About the author:

Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. The Heiress of Winterwood was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Find Sarah online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Find more reviews from the blog tour and information about the book here.


No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.