Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

#BookReview: Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse

25 Mar

Almost Home is a tender tale that transports readers to Blackberry Springs, Alabama, amid World War II. The time period and setting are vividly portrayed, as is the community that surrounds Dolly Chandler’s family home. The cast of characters is delightfully engaging, and I was moved by their individual stories and struggles. Their heartache and healing bring emotional depth to this sweet, southern story, and its lyrical writing makes it a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed Almost Home and look forward to reading more from Valerie Fraser Luesse.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

With America’s entrance into the Second World War, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam’s munitions plants–and they’re bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler’s grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.

An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war–they’re all hoping Dolly’s house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.

When tragedy strikes, Dolly’s only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

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#BookReview: Tomorrow’s First Light by Naomi Rawlings

25 Feb

I loved Sam and Ellie’s story! Rawlings handily captured my attention and swept me away to Twin Rivers, Texas, as trail dust rose from the pages. The details and descriptions were vivid, and the storyline delighted me with elements of drama, intrigue, and romance. A distinctive marriage of convenience tale, Tomorrow’s First Light is one for my keeper shelf!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Nervous about meeting her fiancé for the first time, Ellie Spritzer’s lifelong hope of finding love is about to end—or rather, begin. She never imagined her quest for love would take her to the other side of the country with all eight of her siblings in tow, but after her mother dies unexpectedly, what choice does she have? At least the man she’s been writing for the past year is still willing to marry her and take in her siblings… or so she thinks until she arrives in the dusty town of Twin Rivers, Texas.

Growing up an orphan, Sam Owens never had a place to call home or a family to love. So if his wife-to-be needs to bring three of her siblings with her, he has no complaints about having a ready-made family. But his mail-order-bride doesn’t arrive with three. She arrives with eight.

Sam can’t make himself turn away children in need. But as a beginning rancher, he doesn’t have the resources to care for so many people. When sinister forces threaten the things Sam and Ellie both hold dear, can they figure out how to keep their fledgling family together, or will they lose the very things they cherish most?

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#BookReview: The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

22 Feb

The Sky Above Us is a wonderful wartime tale! Sundin once again weaves fact and fiction together beautifully to create a compelling narrative. Brimming with emotion, Adler’s and Violet’s journeys are poignant and stirring, and I enjoyed reading about their experiences.
Having read The Sea Before Us prior to this novel, I was eager to continue the Sunrise at Normandy series. For those who have not read Book 1, plenty of background information is included, allowing The Sky Above Us to also be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion.

Violet Lindstrom wanted to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges entertainment for the men of the 357th in the Aeroclub on base and sets up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement.

Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-day draws near. And secrets can’t stay buried forever.

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#BookReview: A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz

7 Jan

A Bound Heart captivated me from beginning to end! The imagery is vivid and the setting, which spans the globe, is easily imagined. I loved Magnus and Lark, and their characters brought to mind those of Ross and Demelza Poldark. This sweeping story is one that slowly unfolds allowing the reader to savor its beauty and lyricism. Inspired by her own heritage, Laura Frantz has crafted a heartfelt historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he is hoping will provide a tincture that might help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Yet even when all hope seems dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony, it may be that in this New World the two of them could make a new beginning–together.

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#BookReview: Searching for You by Jody Hedlund

27 Dec

Oh, how I loved Sophie’s story! I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the plight of orphaned and homeless children during the orphan train movement, and Hedlund has done an excellent job of bringing their stories to life. Heart-wrenching and hopeful, Searching for You is a compelling tale and a wonderful conclusion to the Orphan Train series. While this novel can stand alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own. 

 

About the book:

Despite years on the run, Sophie Neumann is determined to care for two young children. She won’t abandon them the way she thinks her older sisters abandoned her. But times are growing desperate, and when she falls in with the wrong crowd and witnesses a crime, she realizes fleeing 1850s New York is her only option.

Disappearing with her two young charges into a group of orphans heading west by train, Sophie hopes to find safety and a happy life. When the train stops in Illinois for the first placement of orphans, Sophie faces the most difficult choice of her life.

Reinhold Weiss has finally purchased his own small farm. With mounting debts, a harvest to bring in, and past scars that haunt him, he’s in no position to give his heart away . . . but can he say no when his long-lost friend shows up on a nearby train pleading for his help?

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#BookReview: Romancing the Bride by Melissa Jagears

17 Dec

Romancing the Bride is a heartwarming romance that captivated me from beginning to end! I am a fan of marriage of convenience stories, and this one is among my favorites. A departure from customary tales of this trope, I loved the complexities of Jacob and Annie’s story and reveled in the myriad of emotions they experienced. Melissa Jagears never fails to delight with her excellent characterization and engaging plots, and I am eager to continue the Frontier Vows Series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Desperate to keep the ranch where three of her children and a husband lie buried, Annie Gephart must marry or sell. Which of the few bachelors in town would consider a surprise proposal to wed a plain widow with a rebellious daughter, a spirited boy, and unpaid taxes—without laughing in her face?

Jacob Hendrix has never fully let go of his ranching dreams despite ending up as a small Wyoming town’s marshal. The job wouldn’t be so bad, except he’s more errand boy than lawman. When Annie proposes marriage without a single coquettish bat of an eyelash, can he commit himself to a woman he hardly knows for a choice piece of property he’d be an idiot to pass up?

But taxes aren’t all that threaten Annie and Jacob’s plans. Cattle rustlers, crumbling friendships, and wayward children make this marriage of convenience anything but. When they lose what they’ve sacrificed everything to save, will the love of a stranger be enough?

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#BookReview: A Worthy Rebel by Jody Hedlund

26 Sep

A Worthy Rebel is an enchanting tale! Rebellion and desperation collide as Cole Warwick discovers an injured runaway and offers her aide. However, the rebellious peasant feels deceived by Izzy when her true identity is revealed. The story that unfolds is dramatic and romantic, captivating me from beginning to end. Izzy and Cole are endearing characters, and I delighted in their story!

The fifth book in the An Uncertain Choice series, A Worthy Rebel can be enjoyed independently of its predecessors. However, I have read and loved each of the books in this series and highly recommend them to fans of medieval romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

While fleeing an arranged betrothal to a heartless lord, Lady Isabelle becomes injured and lost. Rescued by a young peasant man, she hides her identity as a noblewoman for fear of reprisal from the peasants who are bitter and angry toward the nobility.

Cole Warwick cannot turn his back on a person in need and soon finds himself falling for Izzy, the gentle and beautiful runaway who is mending in his cottage. As the leader of an imminent uprising against the nobility, he tries to resist his growing feelings for Izzy to protect her from the dangerous life he’s chosen. But the longer she stays, the more he hopes she’ll never leave.

When Izzy’s true identity is revealed, Cole feels betrayed. With the rebellion underway, can Cole forgive Izzy and find a way to save her from an unhappy marriage? Or will he and his peasant army be destroyed before he has the chance to fight for the people and the woman he loves?

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#BookReview + eBook #Sale: Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof

4 Aug

Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a masterfully crafted novel! Exploring the bonds of brotherhood and the resilience of the human spirit, Bischof swept me away on an extraordinary journey. Each of the characters leapt from the page and captured my heart, although none more so than Thor and Aven. Their heartfelt story is richly layered and tempered with tenderness. Beautifully written, Sons of Blackbird Mountain is not to be missed!

 

EBOOK SALE!

This weekend, the publisher is running a $2.99 eBook sale on Sons of Blackbird Mountain. Now is the perfect time to grab a copy!

https://www.tnzfiction.com/sons-of-blackbird-mountain/

 

About the book:

When Aven Norgaard leaves Norway to serve as housekeeper to her late husband’s cousins in Appalachia, she expects lads in need of care, not three grown men—each in need of a wife and bound by a powerful brotherhood. As the men carve out a living by brewing artisan liquor, young Haakon’s pursuit tempts Aven’s lonely spirit . . . but it is his deaf brother, Thor, whose silent strength shows her the depths of real love.

Unable to speak to any woman, Thor Norgaard never anticipates Aven will befriend him, let alone treat him as her safe harbor. Though hard cider is their livelihood and his greatest talent, he fights his way to sobriety with Haakon’s help, defying the bottle for Aven’s hand—only to face a battle of the heart that tests even the strongest bonds of brotherhood.

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#BookReview: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham

31 Jul

The Hope of Azure Springs is a stirring story! Em is an endearing character who has experienced much heartache, and the care and kindness she finds in Azure Springs are touching. Intrigue and romance weave their way through the narrative, and my emotions were engaged as the dramatic tale unfolded. Always happy to discover new authors, I enjoyed The Hope of Azure Springs and look forward to reading more from Rachel Fordham.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book:

Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won’t be able to do it alone.

For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He’s determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn’t expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.

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#BookReview: Minding the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher

30 Jul

Minding the Light is a compelling continuation of the Nantucket Legacy series! I was delighted by the Nantucket Island setting and pleased to learn more about the history of its Quaker community. Engaging characters and historical details, both real and imagined, add richness and depth to this dual timeframe tale. I especially enjoyed Great Mary’s journal entries intertwined throughout the novel. Suzanne Woods Fisher is a gifted storyteller, and I look forward to continuing this fascinating series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the book: 

Six long years ago, Captain Reynolds Macy sailed away from his bride, looking forward to the day when he would return to Nantucket Island with a ship’s hold full of whale oil. But when that momentous day finally arrives, Ren soon discovers that everything has changed in his absence. Everything. “Is nothing on this island as it appears to be?” he whispers in despair.

Unlike most islanders, bold and spirited Daphne Coffin doesn’t defer to Ren as an authoritative whalemaster, but sees through his aloofness to the aching heart beneath. She encourages him to return to his Quaker roots and “mind the Light,” finding solace in God and community. As Ren becomes the man she believes him to be–honorable, wise, faithful–she finds herself falling in love with him.

But how can she, when her heart is spoken for? Tristram Macy is Ren’s business partner, cousin, and best friend–and Daphne’s fiance. Love always comes at a cost, but when is the price too high?

Learn more about the book and the author. 

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