Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

#BookReview: The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser

7 Dec

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The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2ggTLYa

Born into a life of hard work, English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York City in 1911 with her wealthy mistress. Wide-eyed with the possibilities America has to offer, Annie wonders if there’s more for her than a life of service. Annie chooses to risk everything, taps into courage she never knew she had, and goes off on her own, finding employment in the sewing department at Macy’s. While at Macy’s Annie catches the eye of a salesman at the Butterick Pattern Company. Through determination, hard work, and God’s leading, Annie discovers a hidden gift: she is a talented fashion designer—a pattern artist of the highest degree. As she runs from ghosts of the past and focuses on the future, Annie enters a creative world that takes her to the fashion houses of Paris and into a life of adventure, purpose, and love.

 

My thoughts:

Boasting wonderful characterization and a fascinating story line, The Pattern Artist captivated me from beginning to end! I loved experiencing Annie’s journey out of her life as an English servant and into living her American dream. I also delighted in the notable historical events that are deftly woven through the fabric of this compelling novel. Alive with imagery and emotion, The Pattern Artist is a beautiful story!

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

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#BookReview: Love, Lies, and Typewriters | Facebook Launch Party

28 Nov

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Love, Lies, & Typewriters by Heather Blanton

On sale today for $0.99!  http://amzn.to/2eKaMG7

A cowboy with a Purple Heart. A reporter with a broken heart. Which one is her Mr. Right?

When Lucy Daniels is rescued from a stampeding herd of cattle by war hero Dale Sumner, sparks fly and headlines are born. Smelling an opportunity, the local newspaper decides to send the couple on a tour selling war bonds—not to mention, subscriptions. Enamored with her handsome savior, Lucy is happy to play her part … until she realizes her affections are slowly slipping toward the wrong man.

Ace reporter and aspiring mystery writer Bryce Richard is tasked with building up Lucy and Dale’s budding affair. He can’t think of anything worse for a journalist than switching from hard news to pounding out romantic drivel. Complicating matters, Bryce wishes Lucy would look to him for her happily-ever-after. Only, that would wreck the whole tour and Bryce’s coveted book deal.

When love and lies collide on the front page, will Lucy and Bryce have a chance to write their own fairy tale ending? Or are they already yesterday’s news?

My thoughts:

“The fairy-tale ending is non-negotiable.”

This happily-ever-after is witty, humorous, and full of charm! I loved the time period and delighted in the characters and their antics. Love, Lies, and Typewriters is an entertaining novella and a great introduction to Heather Blanton’s writing. I look forward to reading more!

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

 

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YOU’RE INVITED!

Heather is celebrating the release of Love, Lies, & Typewriters with a Facebook launch party, TOMORROW, November 29, from 5-8 PM EST.  There will be chatting, freebies, and fun, so join the party now!  https://www.facebook.com/events/586955768155915/

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#BookReview: A Convenient Christmas Wedding by Regina Scott

15 Nov

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A Convenient Christmas Wedding by Regina Scott

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2fHJgLl

Proposing a marriage of convenience to a rugged logger is the boldest move of Nora Underhill’s sheltered life. In return for Simon Wallin’s protection from her overbearing family, the unassuming seamstress offers prime frontier farmland. But their paper marriage changes when Nora’s greedy brother tries to draw her back into a life of drudgery. Her only option: move to Simon’s farm, and into the center of his loving, unruly family.

Years of shouldering responsibility have left Simon cynical and reserved. But little by little, Nora’s warmth opens his shuttered heart to joy. With their marriage claim under threat, can this practical arrangement blossom over the holidays…and become a love for all seasons?

 

My thoughts:

Regina Scott is a wonderful storyteller, and I reveled in her delightful twist on the marriage of convenience trope! Simon and Nora’s story is engaging, entertaining, and sure to make you smile. I love the Wallins and especially enjoyed the humor and heart Nora brought to their family. I also loved the animals she brought, too!  😉  A Convenient Christmas Wedding is a lovely story and a cozy Christmas read!

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

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#BookReview: Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

10 Nov

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Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2fDFHIz

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she’s asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

 

My thoughts:

Richly layered and steeped in history, Waves of Mercy captivated me from beginning to end! The characterization is excellent, and I quickly became immersed in the lives of Geesje and Anna. I loved the memories and emotions Geesje shared while writing about her life experiences; the immigration from the Netherlands to Michigan was fascinating. I was also delighted by Anna and her determination to discover more about her family and her faith. Geesje and Anna’s journeys are beautifully intertwined, and I would love to continue their stories. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially multi-generational stories, Waves of Mercy is a novel I highly recommend.

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

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#BookReview + #Giveaways: The Cautious Maiden

28 Oct

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The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2eXBFYJ

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents’ New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks; but when Violet’s own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance; Vance Everstone. As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU. With danger stalking her and a new fiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust and who to leave behind.

 

My thoughts:

Dawn Crandall creates beautiful story worlds, and fans of the Everstone Chronicles are sure to love its latest installment! Vance Everstone plays quite the hero in this book, a complete transformation for the former scoundrel. From loathing him to loving him, I was delighted by his reformation! Intriguing and enchanting, Vance and Violet’s journey is teeming with drama and romance. The Cautious Maiden is an enthralling tale, and I loved every minute!

 

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Buzzing About Books GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS – (US mailing addresses only)
Thanks to the publisher, Whitaker House, one lucky Buzzing About Books reader will win a print copy of The Cautious Maiden!

To enter the giveaway:
Leave a comment below, and be sure to include your email address. The giveaway ends Thursday, November 3 at midnight CDT. The winner will be announced on this blog and notified by email on November  4.

To earn additional entries:
Follow this blog and/or share the giveaway. Be sure to let me know what you’ve done to earn additional entries!

 

Dawn’s Rafflecopter GIVEAWAYS!

Dawn is celebrating the release of The Cautious Maiden with not one, but TWO giveaways!  Click here to enter!

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Goodreads GIVEAWAY!

5 copies of The Cautious Maiden are up for grabs in a Goodreads giveaway ending November 4.  Click here to enter!

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

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The Sound of Silver Birthday Blog Tour + #Giveaway

24 Oct

Hi, friends!  Welcome to The Sound of Silver birthday blog tour! I’m excited to celebrate Rachelle Rea Cobb’s second installment in the Steadfast Love series, an inspirational historical romance set during the 16th century!

Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds, the first book in the series, and a newlywed! This summer, she married a man with the same first name as the hero of the series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about The Sound of Silver and spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you enter using the Rafflecopter form to win the lovely necklace pictured and your choice of any of the Steadfast Love titles!

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About The Steadfast Love Series:

In 16th-century Europe, the Reformation rages between Protestants and Catholics. Gwyneth, half-Dutch, flees from England to Holland to escape the man who murdered her parents. When he follows her there and insists he came to rescue her, will she trust this man called Dirk? When tragedy strikes, will their steadfast love erode?

 

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The Sound of Silver

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Goodreads

The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One fights for faith, the other for honor…

After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once distrusted.

Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth’s searching hearts ever sing the same song?

 

GIVEAWAY!

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Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to win a beautiful necklace created by Baubles, Beads, and Stuff and your choice of any one of Rachelle’s three books (the series begins in Book One, of course, but in case you have one or two of her books already, Rachelle will gladly send you the next one to read!).

International friends, the paperback & necklace giveaway is open to continental U.S. addresses only (sorry!). But do still enter, because one international winner will also be chosen to receive an e-book.

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway! 

 

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About the author:

Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about years long ago–her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance. Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series during college. Five months after she graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She’s a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads

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#BookReview: The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep

10 Oct

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The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/2dKDRU1

Proper English governess Eleanor Morgan flees to the colonies to escape the wrath of a an angry duke. When the Charles Town family she’s to work for never arrives to collect her from the dock, she is forced to settle for the only reputable choice remaining to her—marriage to a man she’s never met. Trapper and tracker Samuel Heath is a hardened survivor used to getting his own way by brain or by brawn, and he’s determined to find a mother for his young daughter. But finding a wife proves to be impossible. No upstanding woman wants to marry a murderer.

 

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My thoughts:

The Captive Heart is a frontier adventure you don’t want to miss! Michelle Griep takes readers to the Carolina backcountry, and with vibrant details and descriptions, brings to life the ruggedness of the American wilderness. All of the characters are richly drawn, and I loved Samuel and Eleanor and their tumultuous journey. Drama and danger abound as these two face numerous threats, all the time fighting to survive in the face of adversity. Bringing to mind The Last of the Mohicans, I was captivated by this story and would love to read more about these memorable characters!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

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#BookReview: A Lady Unrivaled | The Manor House #Giveaway

6 Oct

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A Lady Unrivaled by Roseanna M. White

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 the danger that has haunted her brother and their friend, and she won’t wait for it 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 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 friends arrive on the scene and try to threaten him into a life of crime. 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 dangerous people who seem ready to destroy them all?

 

My thoughts:

Oh, how I have loved the Ladies of the Manor series! While each of the three stories shares a stand-alone romance, continuing themes carry through this captivating series.

Capturing the essence of the Edwardian era, Roseanna White breathes life into her characters and settings. Lady Ella Myerston and Lord James Cayton are delightfully charming, and I loved their chemistry and the compelling journey they shared. As their story unfolded, I was thrilled to revisit beloved characters from Books 1 and 2 and enjoyed the parts they played in helping piece together the mystery surrounding the Fire Eyes diamonds. Brimming with intrigue and romance, A Lady Unrivaled is a wonderful culmination of a wonderful series!

 

Roseanna is celebrating the Ladies of the Manor series with a grand Manor House Giveaway!

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One lucky winner will receive:

Word Cloud Classics Books, including:
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Dracula
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Great Expectations
The Brothers Grimm: 101 Fairy Tales
The Brothers Grimm, Volume II
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Complete Set of the Ladies of the Manor Series
The Lost Heiress
The Reluctant Duchess
A Lady Unrivaled

Bone China Tea Set
Winner’s choice of pattern – because nothing says “English setting” like tea!

$25 Teavana Gift Card
So the winner can select her favorite blend, or try something new,
and get any tea balls she might need for the awesome loose leaf varieties she picks.

ENTER NOW!

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book.
All thoughts expressed are my own.

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#BookReview: This Road We Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick

5 Oct

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This Road We Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2dtYcMz

Tabitha Brown refuses to be left behind in Missouri when her son makes the decision to strike out for Oregon–even if she has to hire her own wagon to join the party. After all, family ties are stronger than fear.

Along with her reluctant daughter and her ever-hopeful granddaughter, the intrepid Tabitha has her misgivings. The trials they face along the way will severely test her faith, courage, and ability to hope. With her family’s survival on the line, she must make the ultimate sacrifice, plunging deeper into the wilderness to seek aid. What she couldn’t know was how this frightening journey would impact how she understood her own life–and the greater part she had to play in history.

 

My thoughts:

“The choice comes back to knowing what we’re called to do and then doing it with all our hearts and minds and souls.” 

Based on actual events, This Road We Traveled takes readers on a compelling journey along the Oregon Trail. Told from three different perspectives, I enjoyed the historical depth of this story and the palpable emotions of its characters. Tabitha Brown was a strong, courageous woman whose faith never wavered amid the trials and tribulations she and her family faced. How fascinating to learn about The Mother of Oregon and her arduous journey!  A story of “resilience, love, and doing good”, This Road We Traveled offers an inspiring and insightful glimpse into the past.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

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#BookReview: Guide Me Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

4 Oct

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Guide Me Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Click here to purchase a copy or learn more about Guide Me Home.

Working in the massive cave might allow Rebekah the chance to bring joy back to her family.  But will it claim more than it gives?

After tragedy leaves its mark on Rebekah Hardin’s family, she plans to help her parents and six siblings honor her beloved brother’s memory and alleviate their poverty by working as a guide in the dangerous cave system. Kentucky’s renowned Mammoth Cave presents profitable opportunities for hardworking, capable men. But Rebekah is determined and if it means presenting herself as a himself, then she’s up to the job.

Under the wing of experienced guide Tolly Sanford, “Reb” begins to learn the complexities of the cave. The two are joined by an aspiring young cartographer, Devlin Bale. The university student has traveled to the hill country to map tunnels—not to fall for a girl in disguise.

Can the God who designed miles of underground astonishment shape Devlin’s ambitious plans and free Reb from the weight of her past?

 

My thoughts:

Kim Vogel Sawyer never fails to captivate me with her stories, and Guide Me Home is certainly no exception! Rebekah Hardin immediately endeared herself to me, and I admired her dedication to her family and her determination to help provide for them. Tolly Sanford was another favorite character; I loved the way this experienced guide took Rebekah under his wing and taught her the ins and outs of the cave system. When Rebekah and Tolly are joined by Devlin Bale, an aspiring cartographer, a compelling story of faith, family, and romance unfolds. Beautifully told, Guide Me Home is a tender tale and a recommended read for fans of historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

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