Tag Archives: Historical romance

#BookReview: A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White

11 Mar

What a captivating tale! From the wonderful characterization to the cleverly crafted plot, A Song Unheard strikes a perfect chord. I loved the suspense and romance of Willa’s and Lukas’ story and the beautiful harmony they created. Roseanna M. White has once again penned an engaging and entertaining story that delighted me from beginning to end.  I can’t wait to continue the Shadows Over England series!

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

 

About the book:

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

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

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn’t—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: Love’s Bright Tomorrow by Naomi Rawlings

6 Mar

Naomi Rawlings paints vivid pictures with her words and transports readers to the rugged coast of Lake Superior. I love visiting Eagle Harbor and the extraordinary people who live there! Isaac Cummings and Aileen Brogan are each haunted by their pasts and struggle to overcome their sorrow and doubt. Inspiration weaves its way through their journey, and my heart was stirred for each of these compelling characters. Love’s Bright Tomorrow is a wonderful tale of mystery and romance and one I highly recommend!

Love’s Bright Tomorrow is Book 6 of the Eagle Harbor series and can be read independently of its predecessors. However, reading the series in order has allowed me to come to know and love this historical Michigan town and its residents, and I have delighted in the opportunity to return with each release.

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

 

About the book:

Aileen Brogan wants a place to call home. After leaving Ireland for America and losing her father and brother within a year of each other, she feels lost and alone. No matter how hard she tries, she just doesn’t seem to belong in the quaint town of Eagle Harbor. However, Sheriff Isaac Cummings is determined to help her fit in—into town and into his arms—if only she’ll say yes to his courtship. But if he knew her secrets, he’d surely rescind his offer.

Isaac is determined to serve the people of Eagle Harbor in a way that will do his family proud, but he’s haunted by past mistakes. When a band of criminals threatens his beloved town’s safety, he doesn’t want to fail the people he loves like he did four years earlier. But if he doesn’t turn out to be the hero the town needs, what chance does he have of winning Aileen’s resistant heart?

When old wounds reopen, can Isaac and Aileen figure out how to move past their brokenness and find the promise of a bright tomorrow?

Learn more about the book and the author.

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#BookReview: The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin

5 Mar

I love Sundin’s stories, and The Sea Before Us is a wonderful addition to her repertoire! An intriguing and romantic tale, this story sweeps readers away to the months leading up to D-Day. From the military reconnaissance to the family drama, I relished the twists and turns of Dorothy’s and Wyatt’s emotional journeys. The Sea Before Us beautifully blends fact and fiction and leaves me eager to continue the Sunrise at Normandy series.

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

 

About the book:

In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a “Wren” in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France–including those of her own family’s summer home–in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.

As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn to love. Dorothy must resist its pull. Her bereaved father depends on her, and her heart already belongs to another man. Wyatt too has much to lose. The closer he gets to Dorothy, the more he fears his efforts to win the war will destroy everything she has ever loved.

Learn more about the book and the author.  

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#BookReview: Phoebe’s Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher

5 Mar

Phoebe’s Light is an intriguing tale! Suzanne Woods Fisher shares a rich and vivid story as she regales readers with the history of Nantucket, whaling, and the Quaker faith. Phoebe Starbuck is an engaging heroine, and I enjoyed the intertwining of her story with that of her great-grandmother Mary Coffin. Mary Coffin Starbuck was an admirable historical figure, and I delighted in the imagined journal entries and personality Fisher created to bring her character to life. I enjoyed Phoebe’s Light and look forward to discovering more about Great Mary and her heritage as the Nantucket Legacy series continues.

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

 

About the book:

Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Mitchell, a man whom she loathes.

Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.

Learn more about the book and the author. 

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#BookReview: Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren + 5 Book #Giveaway

1 Mar

I enjoyed the uniqueness of this story and its setting, as well as the historical tidbits I gleaned as I read. Keturah and her sisters are compelling characters who set sail from England to take control of their late father’s sugar plantation. Upon arriving on the island of Nevis, the harsh realities of life assault them, and there is much to learn and overcome. I admired the dogged determination Keturah and her sisters showed in their endeavors and look forward to continuing the journeys of The Sugar Baron’s Daughters.

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

 

Click the image below to enter to win a copy of Keturah. Five winners will be chosen and announced March 13 on the Litfuse blog!


About the book:

Although it flies against all the conventions, they’re determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined-and that’s just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

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Cover Reveal + #Giveaway: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

14 Feb

I’m excited to reveal the lovely cover of Book 3 in Roseanna M. White’s Shadows Over England series, An Hour Unspent, and share a giveaway to celebrate!  I love this series and am eager to read Evelina’s story!

 

Enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter HERE.  

 

The Grand Reveal…

About the book:

Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge—and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina’s father soon finds his whole family in danger—and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape it.

Pre-order links:
Amazon | Christianbook

 

Do you judge a book by its cover?
What do you think about the cover of An Hour Unspent?

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#BookReview: My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York by Amanda Barratt

23 Jan

I really enjoyed this well-written story! Adele and Drew are endearing characters who bear responsibility for their family’s well-being, causing them to endeavor to seek financial gain. The story that unfolds is an engaging one of history and romance and is filled with surprising events that held my attention. My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York is a charming tale, and I look forward to reading more from Amanda Barratt.

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

 

About the book:

Outwardly, Adele Linley’s trip to visit her American cousins is nothing more than a summer vacation. In reality, she’s the daughter of an English aristocrat with barely a penny to her name seeking a rich American husband.

Having grown up in an overcrowded orphanage, Drew Dawson is determined to make a name for himself. He’ll take any honest job to provide for his sister—even crossing Niagara Falls by tightrope.

On a sightseeing trip to the Falls, Adele meets several eligible suitors. Incredibly wealthy and pompous, Franklin Conway takes an immediate fancy to her. But Adele would truly like to marry for love. When she encounters the mysterious Drew in the garden, Adele is confused by her feelings for someone who is everything she is NOT looking for. Will they both stay the course they have chosen for themselves?

Learn more about My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York. 

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#BookReview: The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma | Prize Pack #Giveaway

23 Jan

The Melody of the Soul is an achingly beautiful story! Tolsma’s passion for research shines through this heart-wrenching tale that is alive with historical details and imagery. Meeting each of the characters and learning their stories, my heart ached for them and all they endured. With tender and tangible emotions, their journeys captivated me from the very beginning, making this book difficult to set aside. I loved The Melody of the Soul and eagerly await the next installment in the Music of Hope series.

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

 

Join Liz Tolsma and other bookworms for a Facebook Live event on February 6, plus enter to win Liz’s prize pack giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 6. The winner will be announced at Liz’s Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Liz and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

 

About the book:

Anna has one chance for survival-and it lies in the hands of her mortal enemy.

It’s 1943 and Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian living in Prague, has lost nearly everything. Most of her family has been deported, and the Nazi occupation ended her career as a concert violinist. Now Anna is left to care for her grandmother, and she’ll do anything to keep her safe-a job that gets much harder when Nazi officer Horst Engel is quartered in the flat below them.

Though musical instruments have been declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to play the violin. But Horst, dissatisfied with German ideology, enjoys her soothing music. When Anna and her grandmother face deportation, Horst risks everything to protect them.

Anna finds herself falling in love with the handsome officer and his brave heart. But what he reveals might stop the music forever.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Read what other bloggers are saying about The Melody of the Soul. 

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#BookReview: Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano

18 Jan

Out of the Ordinary is a Gilded Age romance unlike any other! Humor and wit abound as the charming cast of characters, with their eccentricities and their antics, dance across the page. Delightfully entertaining from beginning to end, I relished the charming blend of mystery and romance in Gertrude’s and Harrison’s story. While Out of the Ordinary is lighthearted fare, it also delivers a heartfelt message. I love Turano’s tales and can’t wait for more!

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

 

About the book:

Miss Gertrude Cadwalader hoped her position as the paid companion to Mrs. Davenport would be easy. But as she becomes acquainted with her employer, she realizes the wealthy Mrs. Davenport has a strange tendency to be a bit light-fingered with other people’s trinkets. Gertrude is relieved when Mrs. Davenport decides to have a quiet summer away from the social scene–until the woman changes her mind in order to help a young socialite launch into society.

When Gertrude is caught in the act of trying to return one of the trinkets by Mrs. Sinclair, the mother of shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair, the woman jumps to an unfortunate conclusion. Harrison is determined to mend fences with Miss Cadwalader, but he’s unprepared for the escapades a friendship with her will entail.

Learn more about the book and the author.  

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#BookReview: The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz

17 Jan

Laura Frantz’s writing is exquisite, and I love experiencing her stories! That is certainly true for The Lacemaker, as I was swept away by this intricately woven tale. The history of the time period, the captivating characters, and their extraordinary journeys are enchanting and sure to delight fans of historical romance. Beautifully rendered, The Lacemaker is one of my favorite Frantz novels!

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

 

About the book:

When colonial Williamsburg explodes like a powder keg on the eve of the American Revolution, Lady Elisabeth “Liberty” Lawson is abandoned by her fiance and suspected of being a spy for the hated British. No one comes to her aid save the Patriot Noble Rynallt, a man with formidable enemies of his own. Liberty is left with a terrible choice. Will the Virginia belle turned lacemaker side with the radical revolutionaries, or stay true to her English roots? And at what cost?

Learn more about the book and the author.

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