When the Day Comes ~ Review

When the Day Comes

Timeless #1

By Gabrielle Meyer

Libby is a woman in two worlds, and she must decide which life she will sacrifice. All her life, Libby spends her days in one world and her nights in another because sleep allows her to cross time. And her two worlds couldn't be more different. In 1774, Williamsburg, she is living on the edge of revolution, while in 1914, New York, she is living on the cusp of change. She knows the decision she plans to make - in one life, her family needs her, and her heart belongs to another. But Libby can't make her decision, leaving one of her lives behind until her 21 birthday. 

In 1774, her family works as a public printer. The work is hard and takes much of her day, but she is living through history - seeing and hearing moments that will change not only her life and those around her but also the world. 

In 1914, Libby lives a life of wealth and privilege, and to her mother's consternation she takes an active interest in the cause of suffrage rather than pursuing a marriage to English aristocracy. What Libby doesn't know is that the rumors of war are about to change the world yet again.

When the Day Comes is an intriguing story. What life would one choose if you could only live one? Which family would you give up? What would decide for you the path that you would take? I have to admit I don't know if I could make such a choice. In one life, she is known as a time-crosser, but in the other, she is just a daughter. I understand why Libby chose the path that she did, but still, it was heartbreaking for her as she said her goodbyes silently, unable to share all that was on her heart. This is the first book in a new series, and though this book is complete, there was most definitely an opening made for what could come next (or before, depending on the time and the time-crosser). 

Who would you leave behind, dying to the life and family you willingly gave up?

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

How will she choose, knowing all she must sacrifice?

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she's the same person at her core in both times, she's leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives--and any hope of love--are put in jeopardy.

Libby's life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about--women's suffrage--is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she's not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other--but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

Inventions of the Heart ~ Review

Inventions of the Heart
The Lumber Baron’s Daughters #2
By Mary Connealy

The Stiles sisters have managed to elude their stepfather and his plans for their futures. But with Laura married and on her way home with her new husband, Michelle and Jilly know that he will redouble his efforts to bend them to his will. Edgar will lose any chance of controlling their late father's lumber empire if they marry men of their choosing.

The Two Harts Ranch has become their place of refuge, and Michelle could see Zane Hart as a potential husband. And his ranch offers her a chance to put her inventive skills to good use. And the fact gold has been discovered in a hidden section of his ranch is just tempting her, not with its promise of wealth, but for the challenge it presents.

Zane Hart has been content with his life as a rancher, but Michelle Stiles has a way of disrupting everything. Her mind is constantly planning, looking at ways to make improvements. And with drought threatening Zane's cattle, she has the perfect solution.

When an attack threatens everything, Michelle and Jilly are ready to again run. If they do the right thing and testify against the man who attacked them, their identities and location will surely get back to their stepfather. And the trouble he'll send their way could prove deadly for anyone who stands in Edgar's way! 

Inventions of the Heart (IOTH) is the second book in the Lumber Baron's Daughters series, and you need to read the first book (Elements of the Heart) before reading this book. Yes, you can read and enjoy IOTH, but you will be left in the dark as to what has already happened. This is a book about family and expectations. Michelle, Jilly, and Laura were raised and trained to be smarter than everyone else, and they had the expectations of running an empire placed upon their shoulders at a young age. The three are not that old - twenty-five years is still a ways off, so I can see that the future set before them is more than a little daunting. This is a good book, and one I would recommend. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Her heart seeks safety. 
But will trouble find her even here?

After her sister’s marriage, Michelle Stiles is left hiding at Two Harts Ranch with the handsome but stubborn Zane Hart. She’s managed to stay one step ahead of her stepfather and his devious plans, but if he finds her, she will no longer be safe.

Zane has problems of his own. Having discovered a gold mine on his property, he must figure out how to harvest it without kicking off a gold rush. Michelle, educated and trained to run her father’s business, wants to manage all aspects of the mine, but Zane thinks, for a person so smart, she can have some misguided ideas. Running the mining operation will be a dangerous job, and he can’t risk putting her in harm’s way.

But danger finds Michelle anyway when she’s suddenly attacked. If they go to the sheriff, they’ll reveal her location, but if they do nothing . . . their troubles have only just begun.

All That It Takes ~ Review

All That It Takes

By Nicole Deese

Val Locklier is an intelligent, motivated single mom, but she can't see herself past the limitations that she has allowed others to place on her by their own short-sightedness. When she seeks to better herself and move out of the protective net her family has provided, life doesn't go according to her plans. In fact, everything seems to implode during her week. But this unexpected series of disasters may prove to be her biggest opportunity, but only if she can seize the opportunity.

Miles McKenzie's life has been doing foreign outreach, but suddenly the life he's always loved has become budgetary cut, and he's been reassigned to a family crisis center. Resentment dogs his every interaction with the senior staff of his home church. Searching for any opportunity to return to his foreign outreach, Miles isn't about to settle into the new role he's been given happily. 

When Miles and Val experience an unexpected connection, they'll have to look within if they have any hopes of a future or to experience true and lasting peace. 

This book is interesting, especially when viewed through an eye of self-examination. How often do we thwart God's best for us by not seizing what He has set before us? By complaining about the work He has given us? I enjoyed this book on two levels - one as a purely entertaining read and two as something to make me think about my own life. 

I loved the cover of this book - it portrayed snippets of moments, but almost everything was in shades of blue. It gave me a calm, peaceful feeling as I looked at it, and it really did fit well with this book, in my opinion. 

About the Book:

When the ever-cautious Val Locklier moves cross-country with her son for a secure job, everything she'd planned unravels within the first week. After Val reluctantly agrees to rent an apartment from her best friend's brother, an unexpected chance at an elite filmmakers' mentorship ignites fresh hope for a dream career. But as Val's community begins to expand, so do her insecurities, especially those heightened by her growing attraction to a certain friendly landlord.

Pastor Miles McKenzie returns home from a short-term mission trip to discover that not only does he have an intriguing new tenant living upstairs, he's also been reassigned to a local ministry on life support. Disillusioned and restless, he distracts himself by throwing his energy into a host of new projects--not the least of which is pursuing Val--without stopping to consider the future.

As Val struggles to stop hiding behind the camera and Miles wrestles with shattered expectations, they'll find that authentic love and sacrifice must go hand in hand.

Deadly Shallows ~ Review

Deadly Shallows

Coastal Guardians #3

By Dani Pettrey

It was a celebration of achievements and new beginnings when an attack turned it deadly. But the lost lives and the traumas were just the beginning and something even more insidious was taking place. 

When an attack occurs on the Coast Guard base CGIS never realized just what they were about to take on. The killers had an ulterior motive and they weren't about to be stopped. And when Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler becomes a target of these merciless killers she may become their next victim. But if Noah Rowley has anything to say about it Brooke will never leave his sign as long as the threat exists.

While everyone is trying to wrap their heads around this attack and potential fallout another case all but falls in their lap - this one has the potential to have a major environmental impact. Can the CGIS team handle all of this chaos and emotional upheaval while bringing down criminals who seem to be far ahead of them with few clues to direct their investigations? Well, they are certainly going to try - but to find out whether or not they succeed you have to read the book.

The book is fairly well-paced throughout. And we have not one but two potential romances on the horizon between first Noah and Brooke and second Caleb and Austin. So plenty of romance and suspense in this one. There are quite a few murders but no graphic descriptions to keep you up at night. Nope, the only reason this book will give you a late night is because you can't put it down. This book is the third book in The Coastal Guardians series but you could read it as a standalone book (there are a few references to previous actions but nothing to keep you from enjoying the book).

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A mass shooting.

A stolen weapon capable of immense destruction. 

A painful secret that threatens to tear two hearts apart.

CGIS Agent Noah Rowley is rocked to the core when he learns of a mass shooting raging on his Coast Guard base. He and his team stop the attack, but not before numerous innocent lives are lost. Furious and grief-stricken, he determines to do whatever is needed to bring the mastermind behind the attack to justice.

Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler evacuates the scene of the shooting in a helicopter carrying the only surviving gunman. Gravely wounded, the man whispers mysterious information to Brooke that immediately paints a target on her back.

As Brooke and Noah race to uncover answers, emotions between them ignite. Noah struggles to protect Brooke at all costs and to conceal the secret that prevents him from becoming what he longs to be--the right man for her.

Everything is at stake as a horrifying truth emerges. . . .

The mass shooting wasn't the end game. It was only the beginning.

The Element of Love ~ Review

The Element of Love

The Lumber Baron's Daughters #1

By Mary Connealy

The Stiles daughters are unique and unusual for the world they live in. Raised by their parents to inherit and run their father's lumber dynasty, their greatest assets are their minds, and to survive on their own and thwart their stepfather's plans, they will need them.

Welcome to 1872 California and the first book in The Lumber Baron's Daughters. In this book, we aren't given a lot of backstory. What we do know is that Michelle, Jilly, and Laura Stiles have to leave in the dead of the night, taking a treacherous and life-threatening path down the mountain that they call home. And to help facilitate their escape, their mother, Margaret, will do what she has to, even if it puts her in danger. More than a year ago, Margaret married Edgar and soon regretted the biggest mistake of her life - marrying a monster in disguise. To rescue their mother and to take control of the dynasty their father built, all three girls must marry to come into their inheritance - one-third share of the business. But can they find men of worth to marry in a hurry? Only time will tell.

This book focuses on the youngest daughter Laura and her quest to find a husband, and she seemingly has the least reservations of the three sisters about this plan. And at her urging, the three join up with a mission group seeking to bring aid to the families of those trapped by the lure of gold's tantalizing promises. This in itself proved to be an adventure itself as normal "womanly" tasks hadn't been a part of their upbringing.

Overall I found this to be an intriguing and interesting story, and I look forward to seeing exactly what happens next with Michelle and Jilly. And as to what exactly happens with Laura, did she marry? If she did, did she regret her choice as her mother did with Edgar? For those answers, you are going to have to read the book. This book has plenty of moments of intensity that will keep you reading late into the night with the oft thought sentiment, "Just one more chapter," so plan accordingly.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

She mixed danger, desperation, and deception together. Love was not the expected outcome.

With their sharp engineering minds, Laura Stiles and her two sisters have been able to deal with their mother's unfortunate choice in husband until they discovered his plans to marry each of them off to his lecherous friends. Now they must run away--far and fast--to find better matches to legally claim their portion of their father's lumber dynasty and seize control from their stepfather.

During their escape, Laura befriends a mission group heading to serve the poor in California. She quickly volunteers herself and her sisters to join their efforts. Despite the settlement being in miserable condition, the sisters are excited by the opportunity to put their skills to good use. Laura also sees potential in Caleb, the mission's parson, to help with gaining her inheritance. But when secrets buried in Caleb's past and in the land around them come to light, it'll take all the smarts the sisters have to keep trouble at bay.

To Disguise the Truth ~ Review

To Disguise the Truth

The Blecker Street Inquiry Agency #3

By Jen Turano

Eunice Holbrooke, one of the partners at the Blecker Street Inquiry Agency, is about to face the past she thought she'd left behind seven years ago. Sitting before her is none other than Arthur Livingston, the man her late grandfather had planned on her marrying and taking the reins of the family business. Thankfully Arthur has no idea who she is, thanks to her black widow's weeds and masking veil. And there is no way her agency is going to take on his case because she refuses to find herself. 

But Arthur is determined to find Eugenia Howland and return her to her home in Butte, Montana before she is declared dead. If Eugenia is declared dead, she will lose the fortune her grandfather left to her. 

But Eunice has vowed to never return to Montana, and she has very good reasons for not doing so. The main reason her grandfather's murderer just might be waiting for her.

To Disguise the Truth is a Historical Fiction with mystery, romance, and humor running throughout. Eunice and Arthur have several exchanges that seem contentious but at times are rather amusing. And the Howland family, oy, what a mess. This is one book you most definitely have to read it is a most enjoyable diversion and the perfect way to escape from the stresses of the day. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

When a man arrives at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire them to find a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her . . . and that she may no longer be able to hide under the disguise that has kept her safe for so long.

Arthur Livingston's goal in life is to make his mark on the world as a mining industrialist, but after the man who could help him achieve his goal is murdered, Arthur feels compelled to seek justice for the family--but he's left with more questions than answers after the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency refuses to take on his case.

Desperate to conceal her real identity and avoid the irritatingly handsome Arthur, Eunice takes on a different case that requires her to go deep undercover and entangles her in one troublesome situation after another. When other secrets come to light, Eunice has no choice but to confront her past, hopeful that it will set her free but knowing it could very well place her life--and the lives of those she loves--in jeopardy.

Enchanting the Heiress ~ Review

Enchanting the Heiress

Home on the Heath #3

By Kristi Ann Hunter

Miss Harriet Hancock may not be titled but she is an heiress. An heiress with a secret, a secret that is keeping her from living the life she truly wants.

Jonas Fitzroy is tired of Miss Hancock's meddling ways. She thinks nothing of implying a mistruth here or there to get the result she wants. He saw how she meddles in his sister Sophia's life and he doesn't want to be caught in any of her "plans". 

But Sophia hatches a plan to get Jonas out of his solitary existence she just needs Harriet's help to pull it off. Never one to deny Sophia, Jonas finds himself agreeing to speak about his art with Harriet but gets pulled into a scheme of helping her to write a book. Past experiences have made him wary of Harriet and her request.

As the two work together Jonas has moments when he wonders if he has misjudged Harriet. But when the truth that Harriet has guarded for years comes out, Jonas has to wonder if he truly ever knew the real Harriet. 

Enchanting the Heiress is the third and final book in the Home on the Heath series. This time we get to know Jonas and Harriet. Jonas has spent years avoiding any and all close relationships with everyone other than Sophia. Harriet has been living a lie, it was with the best intentions but she has trapped herself in it. Harriet and Jonas couldn't be a more unlikely couple but their friends see the potential. But the truth that Harriet has been concealing could destroy the fragile friendship that has been forming between them. 

I have to say I'm sorry that this series is ending. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all the characters who graced these pages. The characters all have depth and there are layers that have to be peeled away to get to who they truly are at their core. Harriet was definitely more than what I was expecting, especially with what I saw of her in the two previous books. Now, I feel this book is best read after reading Vying for the Viscount and Winning the Gentleman but one could read this book as a standalone and not get lost, some reference to previous incidents wouldn't be as clear but not to the point of ruining the story. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Miss Harriet Hancock enjoys playing the role of eccentric heiress, using her wealth and influence to cleverly and anonymously better the lives of those in Newmarket. Though she keeps people at a distance to protect a years-old secret, when her friend pleads for help on a personal project, Harriet can't resist.

Stablehand Jonas Fitzroy would do anything for his twin sister, even if it means seeking out the woman whose meddling ways have made him wary and suspicious. The last thing he expects is for Miss Hancock to request his help in writing a book. Intent on revealing her underlying plan, Jonas agrees.

As they work together, an unexpected friendship forms. But when things for once don't go according to Harriet's plan, she's left wondering if good intentions might not be enough. Is there a way to mend the broken pieces of her life? And will Jonas give her another chance at his heart?

The Blackout Book Club ~ Cover Reveal

Today I'm taking part in the Cover Reveal for The Blackout Book Club by Amy Green This WWII novel follows a group of women involved in the home front war effort in Maine. The book releases November 15, 2022, so add it to your TBR List.

Plot Description:
An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European Front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.


At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.


Pre-order Link: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/431778

Now to the book cover:

The Premonition at Withers Farm ~ Cover Reveal

Check out the cover for Jaime Jo Wrights's The Premonition at Withers Farm which is releasing on October 11, 2022!

About the Book:

In 1910 Michigan, Perliett VanHilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor, George Wasziak, convinced she practices quackery. It doesn't help that her mother, Maribeth VanHilton, is a Spiritualist who regularly offers her services to help others speak to their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she relies on both George and an intriguing newcomer for help.

In the present day, life has not developed the way Molly Wasziak dreamed. Facing depression after multiple miscarriages, Molly is adapting to her husband's purchase of a new farm. A search for a family tree pulls Molly deep into a vintage web of deceptions, made more mysterious by the disturbing shadows and sounds in the old farmhouse.

Perliett fights for her life, and Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time silence their truths forever?

Preorder link: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/433715

To Win a Prince ~ Cover Reveal

Toni Shilo's In Search of a Prince was released just 2 weeks ago and if you enjoyed the book, as I did,

you will be thrilled to learn that a second book will be released on September 13, 2022!

That's right To Win A Prince is coming this fall. 

And what better day to have a cover reveal than on 

Valentine's Day?

💙💚💗💛💜

But first I'm sure you want to get a quick idea of

what is coming before you see the cover.

Right?

Well, even if you don't the reveal is kind of like a present and you

like the anticipation of what is to come. And the back cover blurb 

is a tantalizing tease - a first glimpse of what is coming.

So here is the back cover blurb to enjoy:

As a fashion aficionado and best friend of the queen of the African island country Ọlọrọ Ilé, Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a business to help citizens in impoverished areas. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins.

Ekon Diallo has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his countrymen. To pay for his actions against Ọlọrọ Ilé, he’s forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely—but he can’t allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status.

As Iris strives to get her business off the ground while keeping her heart intact, will her dreams of happily ever after survive the challenges she faces?

Preorder: BakerBook House 

Goodreads

Toni Shilo

Book releasing September 13, 2022, from Bethany House Publishers

And now the cover reveal that you have been

anticipating and waiting for is here:

Don't you just love the cover?

And with Iris's work as a fabric purchaser

for a fashion designer in In Search of a Prince

I think this dress and the style are perfect for this cover!

And doesn't they look absolutely lovely side-by-side? 

In Search of a Prince ~ Review

In Search of a Prince

By Toni Shiloh

Brielle Bayo always thought she was your average American. Her mother raised her as a single parent following her father's death, all while putting herself through medical school. Impressive! Right? 

But now the truth is about to come out. Brielle's mother has been keeping a secret from her for 25 years! Not only did her father have a family BUT they are the ruling family of an island nation in Africa. Worse her grandfather is dying and Brielle has just months left to connect with what was denied her all these years. But the biggest shocker of them all is that she, Brielle Bayo middle-grade civics teacher, is next in the line to the throne!

Cue a major time-out to wrap her mind around the mere possibility if not the fact that she is in line to be queen. 

But does she want to be queen? She has to make a decision and to do so she must visit Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, and get to know the people, the culture, the language, and the history.  No small task for her summer break.  And if she accepts the future before her, she must marry before she can assume the throne. 

In Search of a Prince is a story of faith and trust. Brielle spends time in prayer, seeking the Lord's will. This is one choice that she doesn't want to make on her own. While dealing with the shock of learning who she is, Bri is also dealing with her feelings of betrayal at her mother's silence for 25 years. I can't even begin to imagine how I would be handling such a situation. 

When all of this first unfolds Bri wonders if she is about to find herself in a Princess Diary situation. I have not read the books but I did see the movies and in no way is this a redo.  There is a depth to the characters as they navigate and adapt to their changing world. 

I enjoyed this in both the print version and the audio. The audiobook is excellent. I like how Tamika Katon-Donegal narrates the book. The different characters are identifiable and I really appreciate the pronunciations of the names and places in Ọlọrọ Ilé so I did not have to struggle through it and probably mangle it thoroughly.  I can't say I have a preference for one over the other - audio with the pronunciations while the print version has the spelled-out words. Both together is the ideal in my opinion but this is one book you don't want to miss no matter how you enjoy it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the print book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha's Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops the mother of all bombshells--Brielle is a princess in the kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, King Tiwa Jimoh Adebayo, is failing.

Distraught by her mother's betrayal, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before assuming the throne or the crown will be passed to another. Uncertain who to choose from the council's list of bachelors, she struggles with the decision along with the weight of her new role in a new country. With her world totally shaken, she must take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring.

Shadows of Swanford Abbey ~ Review

Shadows of Swanford Abbey

By Julie Klassen

Rebecca Lane has returned home after years away living as a lady's companion to support her brother. But word has reached that her brother's peculiar ways have worsened. But their is no room for her as her brother has spread out his work into her former room. But John has the perfect solution she can stay at Swanford Abbey and while there present his manuscript to Ambrose Oliver in hopes of getting his recommendation.

Reluctantly Rebecca agrees to John's scheme - though residing temporarily in the hotel long rumored to be haunted is the last thing she wants to do. But delivering her brother's manuscript is nigh on impossible and so Rebecca waits (and wastes funds she doesn't have). Soon she begins to see the rumored ghost that she heard tales of in her youth. 

Sir Frederick Wilford has hidden himself away from life since the death of his late wife. A betrayal has made him avoid unnecessary company but when his brother Thomas visits he finds himself agreeing to a stay at Swanford. There he comes upon the daughter of his late tutor. Rebecca Lane is no longer the young girl she was and he finds himself enjoying the chance to renew their acquaintance. 

But when a dark deed is perpetrated in the night questions are raised about all who are staying at the Swanford. And Sir Frederick as magistrate is dutybound to get answers. He knows someone is hiding something but the question is who is hiding what and whether or not it has a bearing on the murder he is investigating. 

 Shadows of Swanford Abbey is Historical Fiction with a good dose of mystery and a touch of romance. I love when books keep one in suspense as to who did it and this book did an excellent job at doing such. There are so many to suspect it is hard to narrow one's focus on who had the most compelling reason to take out Mr. Oliver. Julie Klassen does an excellent job at presenting a engaging and intriguing story. This is a standalone book as as such is an excellent introduction to this author if you have not yet read her. I have never been disappointed in any of Julie Klassen's books. I love how her characters are flawed and are aware of their failings and yet work to overcome the obstacles they have created in their lives. I would recommend this as an excellent book club selection.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations no that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Agatha Christie meets Jane Austen in this atmospheric Regency tale brimming with mystery, intrigue, and romance.

When Miss Rebecca Lane returns to her home village after a few years away, her brother begs for a favor: go to nearby Swanford Abbey and deliver his manuscript to an author staying there who could help him get published. Feeling responsible for her brother's desperate state, she reluctantly agrees.

The medieval monastery turned grand hotel is rumored to be haunted. Once there, Rebecca begins noticing strange things, including a figure in a hooded black gown gliding silently through the abbey's cloisters. For all its renovations and veneer of luxury, the ancient foundations seem to echo with whispers of the past--including her own. For there she encounters Sir Frederick--magistrate, widower, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart.

When the famous author is found murdered in the abbey, Sir Frederick begins questioning staff and guests and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the man, including Miss Lane and her brother. Haunted by a painful betrayal in his past, Sir Frederick searches for answers but is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something. . . .

Never Leave Me ~ Review

Never Leave Me
Waters of Time #2
By Jody Hedlund

Ellen Creighton is dying. Each day finds Ellen slowly succumbing to the disease that killed her mother and obsessed her father. Harrison Burlington is determined to save her and he is putting all his vast resources into his search. He needs to find more flasks of holy water - the ultimate cure that Arthur Creighton gave his life to locate. But Harrison isn't the only one seeking these ampullae and the competition will do anything for it.  

Ellen doesn't believe the ampullae or the holy water has any curative properties, rather she blames them for the death of both her father and her sister Marian. But Harrison uses compelling means to get her to take what she fears is a death sentence and not hope.

But curing her disease may put her in ever greater danger as the forces intent on stealing the holy water from Marian and Harrison have been watching. When she is forced to do the biding of Lionel, Inc. in the past, Ellen is more than a little unprepared for the world she is about to awaken in. Can she outsmart those who will surely see her die for their financial and criminal endeavors? Or will she die in the past? 

Harrison is desperate to save Ellen's life and when her cure places her in danger he will do everything in his power to find her and bring her home. But how do save someone from the past when you are separated by centuries?

Never Leave Me is the conclusion to the Waters of Time duology and it is a must read! Come Back to Me introduced us to Creighton sisters Marian and Ellen and the Harrison and this book continues on as Ellen and Harrison deal with Arthur and Marian's deaths. But as we know Marian isn't dead in the past and Arthur's fate in the past was unknown. As this book progresses me get answers to some of our questions. 

One really feels for Harrison as the book opens and Ellen's health is declining - He's lost his chance with the woman he has secretly loved. Ellen doesn't see how Harrison feels about her and doesn't understand his need for her to live - to beat back her disease and the cancer consuming her. So it is interesting when an incident occurs that reverses the position that both Ellen and Harrison find themselves in. 

This book also addresses what do you do when you have a limited supply of a miracle cure-all. Do you use it until you run out? Who do you give it to? The highest bidder? Those you are closest to? A random person? This is the ethical dilemma that is soon facing Ellen and Harrison. How do you choose who is worth saving? Not a position I would ever want to be in.

Overall I loved this book and would highly recommend it. But you have to read these books in order, it is an absolute must. If haven't read Come Back to Me do so now before picking up Never Leave Me. This is the perfect series to start of your New Year as it offers new beginnings and second chances.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion  ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he's never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he's desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.

When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug--including sending her back into the past to find it for them.

Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story. 

Her Darling Mr. Day ~ Review

Her Darling Mr. Day

American Royalty #2

By Grace Hitchcock

In My Dear Miss Dupré, Theodore "Theo" Day was jilted at the announcement of his engagement. An engagement that was the media event of the season and had captured the attention of New York society's elite. Hoping to distance himself from the utter embarrassment Theo returns to New Orleans and his family's home to delve into the family business.

Unfortunately, Theo's fame has followed him home making him Lousianna's most sought-after bachelor. Unable to leave his home without being swarmed by the adoring socialites hoping to be Mrs. Theodore Day, Theo is more than a little relieved when Flora Wingfield and her family arrive for the summer. Flora has been one of his closest friends for years and is always ready to offer him encouragement and an understanding ear to listen. 

After two failed romances, Theo has no desire for romance at present which is too bad for him as engaging Theo's attention has been Flora's desire for years and she finally sees that her chance has come. But New Orleans society has decided that Flora and her sisters are a threat to them and all the eligible local bachelors.

As Flora tries to show Theo just how much he needs her she finds herself in a whole passel of trouble as a danger from New York has followed them down South. But as the danger draws near and Flora's plans seem to go awry she has to make one final push to get what her heart desires. 

Her Darling Mr. Day has it all danger, romance, betrayal, a competition, and family. There are some intense moments as danger draws ever nearer. There are also a few humorous incidents scattered throughout. I love how Theo helps Flora achieve a dream - one that has been ignored and even ridiculed by her father. I also love how Flora's happily ever after is in doubt as outside forces conspire against her. As much as I enjoyed My Dear Miss Dupré I found this book to be an even more enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book if you love American historical fiction. If you haven't read the first book in the series it won't detract from your enjoyment of this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

New Orleans' most eligible bachelor insists he's not on the market . . . 

but he couldn't be more wrong.

Jilted in front of all New York, Theodore Day decides to lose himself in his family's luxury riverboat business in New Orleans and compete against his brother to become the next company head. The brother with the most sales by summer's end will win the position. Thanks to Theodore's fame as a suitor in a socialite's outlandish competition to find a husband, he has become a very desirable royalty in Southern society and thus has an advantage.

It took Flora Wingfield's best work to convince her family to summer in New Orleans, but with Teddy Day a bachelor once again, she's leaving nothing to chance. Desperate to stand out from all the clamoring belles, Flora attempts a bold move that goes completely awry, only to find it's her interior design skills that finally catch his notice.

But when Flora's father's matchmaking schemes come in the way of her plans, Teddy will have to decide where his happiness truly lies and what he is willing to sacrifice for it.

To Treasure An Heiress~ Review

To Treasure an Heiress

The Secrets of the Isles #2

By Roseanna M. White

In The Nature of a Lady (TNOAL), Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair is mistaken for Elizabeth "Beth" Tremayne when Beth disappears. Beth's disappearance was planned when her treasure hunting on the Isles of Scilly attracted unwanted attention and danger. But though she has returned home, Beth isn't about to give up her search for the pirate John Mucknell's buried treasure, a treasure that the Pirate Prince, the original owner of Beth's stolen trinket box, had a part in hiding.

Lord Theodore Howe, Marquess of Sheridan, has taken up residence in the Tremayne home, much to Beth's utter annoyance. Sheridan is more than a little pleased to be so close to the treasure hunt and to Beth, who has utterly captured his attention. The self-contained dialogue Sheridan keeps up in his head regarding his feelings for Beth is priceless. I absolutely LOVE Sheridan and his valet servant Ainsley; they are perfect together and obviously great friends. I also think their interactions go a long way to changing Beth's very negative opinion of Sheridan.

The danger that was in TNOAL has only increased and is still lurking as Beth is about to discover. And it is focused on the very treasure that Beth has been researching and seeking. But to outwit the competition, Beth is going to have to do the one thing she doesn't want to do; share what she has discovered and get help from those around her, including the dastardly, villainous Lord Sheridan, who just might be not as bad as she has painted him.

This book is the second in The Secrets of the Isles series and is a wonderful addition to the series. Some new characters are introduced, and their addition adds some interesting additional story threads to the whole. I know some people don't like prologues, but I always love trying to figure out where it will come into play in the story, and this one plays an essential role in the story. The ending is perfect and leaves you wanting book three but without the torture of a cliffhanger.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. As an adolescent, she dreamed of love in London's ballrooms. Now, stumbling across an old map on her family's property, she's found more adventure than she ever craved in the hunt for pirate treasure. Unfortunately, Beth can't escape the attentions of her family's guest, Lord Sheridan.

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interests caught his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth's search connects with one of his favorite pirates of history, he can't help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But the true surprise is the treasure they discover in each other.

A Deep Divide ~ Review

A Deep Divide 

Secrets of the Canyon  #1

By Kimberly Woodhouse

Emma Grace has been running for the last five years and she finally feels that she may be safe from the danger of her past. She has moved her way up through the ranks of the Harvey Girls and has been offered a position at the El Tovar Grand Canyon Hotel. She feels she may finally be far enough away from Boston and her father's "business" dealings to be safe. But when she starts having dreams about the past and the man she fears may still be looking for her she doesn't know what to think.

Ray Watkins has been sent to the El Tovar on business for his father who is seeking to expand his business empire. But the associates his father sent along just seem off to Ray. And when a little gambling incident goes wrong Ray knows something is wrong. Why would his father employ such people and when accusations are thrown at his father by these same troublemakers Ray can't believe it of his father.

When Emma Grace happens to serve Ray Watkins on his first night at El Tovar he is impressed by her professionalism, grace and her personality. Hoping to get to know her better he makes her his go to server. But wealthy men make Emma Grace more than a little leery after all greedy men have ruined her life and left her wanting nothing to do with the social circle she was born into. But Ray is different and Emma Grace is more than a little intrigued as to why.

When Ray shares why he is different he hopes that Emma Grace will accept the saving grace that has given him the peace and caring that now are a daily part of his life and soul. But when danger arrives she may not get the chance to embrace the peace that Ray and her new friends have found and shared with her. Has her past caught up to her or is connected to a nearby robbery? 

 A Deep Divide is a lovely piece of historical fiction set on the edge of the Grand Canyon. This is a book of second chances, grace, romance, and mystery.  I really liked the historical bits about the Harvey House and the descriptions of the Grand Canyon. And I loved Ruth (Emma Grace's boss) she was a calm presence who had a powerful influence on Emma Grace with her caring and her faith.

I paired the physical book with the audio and it made for a nice combination so that I could enjoy the book during my commute. The audio version was narrated by Jeanine Bartel and the presentation was excellent. The pacing was good and the narrator's voice inflected well for the various characters and emotions that the book offered. 

I was provided a complimentary physical copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

After being kidnapped as a child, heiress Emma Grace McMurray has seen firsthand the devastation that greed causes in the world, and she wants nothing to do with it - including her father's offering her hand in a business deal. She sneaks away to be a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Grand Canyon Hotel, planning to stay hidden even if it means always looking over her shoulder.

Ray Watkins arrives at the hotel wanting to impress his father by finding success on his own. Then maybe he can take on more of the family business and do something good with the profits.

Ray immediately admires Emma Grace, and though a friendship forms, she's afraid he's just like every other wealthy man she's known. Then art and jewels go missing from El Tovar and the nearby Hopi House, a mystery that pulls them in and stirs up their worst fears. When shocking revelations come to light, they'll have to question all they thought to be true.

Between the Lines ~ Review

The Lines Between Us

By Amy Green

Gordon Hooper thought Dorie Armitage was the one for him. But then the attack on Pearl Harbor happened and Gordon's pacifist leans came out. For Gordon it wasn't a spur of the moment decision to avoid the war but rather a personal decision that he had determined for his life years ago. Unfortunately, for him Dorie disagreed with his reasoning and his influence over her brother Jack, who also became a conscientious objector. 

Objecting to serving wasn't their goal as they became smokejumpers for the US Army under the oversight of the National Forestry Service. For years, Dorie refused to acknowledge her brother's existence and became a willing and able member of the Women's Army Corps. But when she receives word that Jack was injured in a fire and his recovery is in doubt she does the only thing she can - she investigates Jack's accident. Dorie is convinced she can get to the truth behind Jack's accident and bring the guilty party to justice. She just has to get Gordon the go along with her plan and not reveal her true identity or her purpose for being at the camp.

Between the Lines is an examination of following one's conscience and living with the fallout even when one's views aren't popular and come at great cost personally and professionally.  While some consider Gordon, Jack, and those of like-mindedness to be cowards, were they instead an act of heroism.  

This book is set in the 1940s and the various prejudices that were in effect at that time are briefly touched upon.  This is a look at the point-of-view of two very different people and how these viewpoints brought them to serve their country in how they could serve and live with their own convictions.  At this time if you didn't fit the mold of expectations there was a cost. I enjoyed this book with its honest portrayal of the time - it fits with what my grandmother spoke of and even articles and books one can easily come across with a little research. 

I read this book while listening to the audio version of it. Both are excellent and well worth the time spent. If you enjoy audiobooks for your commute, the narration was well presented. The book's pacing was perfect for engaging one's attention throughout. I highly recommend this book - perfect if you need a book club selection or are just a fan of historical fiction, especially with a WWII era setting.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the print version of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

About the Book:

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gordon Hooper and his buddy Jack Armitage have done “work of national importance” in the West as conscientious objectors: volunteering as smokejumpers, parachuting into and fighting raging wildfires. But the number of winter blazes they’re called to in early 1945 seems suspiciously high, and when an accident leaves Jack badly injured, Gordon realizes the facts don’t add up. 

A member of the Women’s Army Corps, Dorie Armitage has long been ashamed of her brother’s pacificism, but she's shocked by news of his accident. Determined to find out why he was harmed, she arrives at the national forest under the guise of conducting an army report...and finds herself forced to work with Gordon. He believes it’s wrong to lie; she’s willing to do whatever it takes so justice will be done.

As they search for clues, Gordon and Dorie must wrestle with their convictions about war and peace and decide what to do with the shocking secrets they discover.

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque ~ Review

The Barrister and the Letter of Marque

By Todd M. Johnson

Having read the author's previous works which were not historical fiction I was interested to see how he did in this new genre. The story overall was attention-grabbing - a ship arriving at the Port of London late at night and immediately seized for acting as pirates against a French ship. The Captain declares that he was working under a Letter of Marque provided by the Crown. Hanging or deportation to a prison colony is all that Captain Harold Tuttle can look forward to in his future and his cousin and uncle could lose everything to the debt the money they invested in the venture.

With little hope of fighting the Crown and winning, Lady Madeleine Jameson seeks to secure the skills of William Snopes a barrister whom she feels is her best chance of securing her cousin's freedom and the cargo held within the holds of her seized ship.

Since he turned his back on the home of his childhood and his father's misdeeds William Snoopes has done nothing to gain the favor of London's upper-class into ranks he was born. He never fought on their behalf once he became a barrister on his own. That is until Lady Jameson managed to appeal to his sense of justice.

Now I am in no way a historical expert so as to the historical soundness of the book I can make no statement one way or the other. But I will say I found the book to be an engaging and enjoyable experience. Political intrigue, subterfuge, mystery, murder, piracy, and a coverup and little time to prepare for their day in court. I for one would love to read another book starring Barrister William Snopes.

I enjoyed this book with both a paperback and the audible version. The narration by Samuel Roukin was excellent and highly recommended. Perfect for your commute or as a companion to your daily chores. The audio pacing didn't drag and the various major characters were presented so that they were identifiable. 

I received a complimentary copy of the paperback book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion  ~ All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

As a barrister in 1818 London, William Snopes has witnessed firsthand the danger of only the wealthy having their voices heard, and he's a strong advocate who defends the poorer classes against the powerful. That changes the day a struggling heiress, Lady Madeleine Jameson, arrives at his door.

In a last-ditch effort to save her faltering estate, Lady Jameson invested in a merchant brig, the Padget. The ship was granted a rare privilege by the king's regent: a Letter of Marque authorizing the captain to seize the cargo of French traders operating illegally in the Indian Sea. Yet when the Padget returns to London, her crew is met by soldiers ready to take possession of their goods and arrest the captain for piracy. And the Letter--the sole proof his actions were legal--has mysteriously vanished.

Moved by the lady's distress, intrigued by the Letter, and goaded by an opposing solicitor, Snopes takes the case. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he learns that the forces arrayed against Lady Jameson, and now himself, are even more perilous than he'd imagined.

Carved in Ebony ~ Blog Blitz with Excerpt

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Carved in Ebony 

by Jasmine L. Holmes, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Carved in Ebony
Author: Jasmine L. Holmes
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: November 2, 2021
Genre: Christian History / Biography

Through the lives of Elizabeth Freeman, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Amanda Berry Smith, Mamie Till, and others, author and speaker Jasmine Holmes shares the significant role that Black women have played in the formation of our faith--and are playing in our formation as modern-day women of faith. 

As these historical figures take the stage with Holmes, you will be inspired by what the stories of these women can teach us about education, birth, privilege, and so much more. Carved in Ebony will take you past the predominately white, male contributions that seemingly dominate history books to discover how Black women have been some of the main figures in defining the landscape of American history and faith. 

Come along on Jasmine's journey and be encouraged by the powerful and persuasive Black women of our past so that you can help inspire a better, more inclusive future.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Jasmine L. Holmes has written for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Fathom Mag, Christianity Today, and The Witness. Jasmine is the author of Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope, and contributor for Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Our Identity in Christ, and His Testimony, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God. She teaches humanities in a classical Christian school in Jackson, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Phillip, are parenting three young sons.

CONNECT WITH JASMINE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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EXCERPT

Chapter 8 – “A Refined Negro Woman: Lucy Craft Laney” from Carved in Ebony by Jasmine Holmes, pp. 135–136, 237 words (edited)

From the age of fourteen, Lucy Craft Laney knew what she wanted to be: a teacher. And she spent her entire life in dogged pursuit of this goal. Her focus was on the uplift of the Black youth of Augusta, Georgia, and she threw herself so completely into that focus that she lived on the campus where she taught. She operated within her small corner of the world with a faithfulness that we would do well to emulate, even if our different corners seem further reaching than hers.

Lucy is a testament to what it looks like to faithfully stick to a task. Although she was involved in activism as well as education, the bulk of her time was spent in the classroom and in facilitating the classroom experiences of other teachers. She does not have a host of speeches that I can pull from to illustrate her faith in Christ, but perhaps more than any other woman in this book, she has the testimony of the people who knew her and saw her service up close. 

What an incredible testimony of God’s faithfulness this woman was. From enslaved parentage to a thorough education lived out in quiet, humble intellect and service to others.

What a legacy she left, not only for her students, but for every person who picks up her story.

What a legacy she has left me.

What a legacy she has left you.

Excerpt from Carved in Ebony by Jasmine L. Holmes provided by Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright Oct. 12, 2021. Used by permission.

http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of The Happy Crab by Layla & Kevin Palmer, Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson, and Make Their Day by Karen Ehman.

 

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 27, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

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