Pioneer Spirit

Eleanor Morgan escapes to America from England as an indentured servant when her money and letter of recommendation are stollen. She is taken to the backcountry of Carolina thinking she is to be a caretaker for a small child. But upon arrival she is forced to marry a man she has never met, Samuel Heath. He takes her back to his cabin and land far from town where she is to tend his daughter. Eleanor must learn to survive in the wilderness. Samuel must learn to trust with the threat of war and betrayal. Both must learn to depend on God. The author, Michelle Griep, attempts to capture the ruggard spirit of the early pioneers who settled this country in The Captive Heart. Although it is wonderful read, the main storyline is not new. The male protagonist is blacklisted while the forlorn female protagonist struggles to maintain her integrity. As always though love triumphs. Even so, the author did a great job of writing this story with realistic characters. I received this complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Great Story Telling

This is story telling at its best! Cindy Woodsmall's anticiapted second book in the Amish of Summer Grove Series, Fraying at the Edge, is intense, fast-paced, and thrilling as a rollar coaster ride. Even Ariana Brenneman mentions how her life resembles a rollar coaster ride as she tries to learn to live in the English world after being up-rooted from her Old Order Amish life for a year after being told her biological parents, Brandi and Nicholas, are English. Meanwhile, Skylar Nash, has been told her biological parents are the Brennemans, not Brandi and Nicholas, where she must live for a year or go to rehab for her drug addiction. Skylar, desparate for drugs, decides to work at the Brenneman's cafe while she waits for her boyfriend to come. The emotions that these two go through is intense but each learn more about themselves and others around them. This is a great story you don't want to miss. I hope the third book comes out soon. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook's Blogging for Books.

Political Intrigue

James Holt, a rancher from Dakota, is summons to the American Zone of the Panama Canal in 1909 in Sigmund Brouwer's latest historical novel, Saffire. This novel is part mystery, part political intrigue, and romance all in the historical setting of Panama. James Holt's dry humor and Inspector Miskimon, who is quite orderly, provide interesting conversations throughout the novel as Holt tries to unravel the mysterious disappearance of a young girl's mother. Saffire is close in age to his own daughter and her spunkiness at finding her mother endears her to him. But as he begins to ask questions he realizes there is more going on below the surface than a missing woman. This book started out slowly and I almost stopped reading it, however, the more I kept going, the more drawn into the story I became. Brouwer uses actual historical figures and places in this novel making for an interesting read. I received this book for free to review from WaterBrook's Blogging for Books.

Firm Foundation

In The Artisan’s Wife, the third book of the series “Refined by Love” by Judith Miller, the reader is introduced to Ewan and Rose’s sister Ainslee McKay. Ainslee discovers her twin sister, Adaira, has eloped and left her to fulfill the obligation of running the newly purchased tile works in Weston. Ainslee and Adaira have always done things together. Now Ainslee must leave her family striking out into unknown territory of running the new business by herself. Ewan and Ainslee make a deal that he will try to find a buyer while she makes the business profitable. She hires Levi Judson to work at the tile plant and to put his artistic abilities to work in creating mosaics on the tile. As time passes a friendship develops between them that can easily be broken by a secret Levi holds. Ewan finds a buyer for the tile works, now Ainslee must decide if she wants to pursue the mosaic tiles showing her confidence and faith in Levi, or give up the business and go back home where she is most comfortable. Both Levi and Ainslee must learn to trust God through the good and the bad. Overall, it was a nice historical romance to read and discover what the McKay family was up to after the first two books. My only disappointment was that Adaira was left out other than occasional mentions of her. I received this book to read for free to give my honest opinion from Bethany House Publishers.

Sapphire Beauty

"A Beauty Refined" is the second book in the Sapphire Brides Series by Tracie Peterson. I really enjoyed the first book in this historical romance series and was not disappointed by this one as the story revolves around the Yoko Sapphires. Count Frederick Von Bergen is traveling to American to purchase some sapphires for the Dutchess along with his daughter, Pheobe. But there is much Pheobe is not aware of during this visit or who her father really is. Von Bergen has told his daughter that her mother died ten years before in a ship wreck. Imagine Pheobe's shock when she runs into her mother at the hotel she and her father are staying at in Helena, Montana and that she has a younger brother. During her stay at the hotel, Pheobe meets Ian Harper, the local lapidary, who soon becomes a close friend. But Ian can not abide by telling lies. And he soon discovers that is what Pheobe's life is based on. Can Ian and Pheobe find freedom from the lies that surround their lives? Can Pheobe understand where true freedom comes from? A fast read because you become so caught in the story one can not put the book down. The author does a great job with realistic characters and storyline. Looking forward to the third installment in this series. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Dreams, Hope, and Love

In the Land Rush Dreams Series by Vickie McDonough, the reader meets a grown-up Sarah Worley dreaming of owning her own land and a house in Sarah's Surrender. She is not interested in marriage as her good friend Luke McNeil discovers. Sarah views Luke only as her best friend. But Luke is determined to win Sarah over. So when she decides to participate in a land lottery held in El Reno Luke follows along. Sarah, Jack Jensen, her adopted brother, and Luke all enter into the lottery. Her dream begins to come true when she wins a plot of land in the lottery and is able to begin building her house. But along the way mishaps occur which make her question if she is following God's will for her life and questioning her dream. Especially when others begin telling her she is in love with Luke. It was nice to revist with Sarah now that ten years have passed since she ran away from the bordello her father owned with Jo. Although a nice read alone, I would recommend reading the first two books to get the flow and acquainted with the characters. I received a compementary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Deliverance

Meet Delilah in Angela Hunt's third book of the Dangerous Beauty Series. This is a fictional account of the Biblical Samson and Delilah. Hunt does a great job with building believable characters in her newest book. Delilah is a beautiful young woman living with her mother, step-father and step-brother in Gaza, enjoying a previleged life. But all changes with the sudden death of her step-father. Her step-brother, Achish, becomes head of the household, selling Delilah's mother into slavery and abusing Delilah. When Delilah escapes she vows to get revenge on the man who took advantage of her and free her mother. First, though, she must find a way to survive. And then she hears about Samson, Judge of the Isrealites... Hunt notes "Samson and Delilah were not heroes or villains.They were people...because people, with all their flaws, are what God uses to work His divine will (p. 341)." Enjoy this fast paced story of a man devoted to God and a woman devoted to revenge. Two people with a story whose paths cross to fulfill God's will. I received this book free to review for Bethany House Publishers and give my honest opinion.