The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

 

  
Regency romance with murder, mystery and hidden treasure! 


Abigail is the trusted, sensible daughter, Louisa the pretty beguiling one. Members of the privileged, they live in 1817 London. That is until Abigail's recommendation that her father invest in her Uncle's bank - which failed. Knowing that they will have to find another place to live within their reduced means, they receive an invitation from the solicitor on her father's side of the family to come and live at Pembrooke Park - which has been closed up for about 18 years. Since they have found little else that suits them, Abigail and her father go to take a look. They find it will be a grand manor - when cleaned up - and learn that there is also a mystery about the place. Stories of a hidden treasure in a secret, hidden room within the house. Perhaps a chance to rebuild some of their financial loss. As it is their best option, Abigail moves in and prepares the house for her family. It's surely her imagination what sounds like ghosts or someone creeping around at night throughout the nearly empty house.

William is the handsome parson of the Pembrooke Park church. His father, Mac, had served the previous owner of the manor and now is the parish clerk as well as land agent for nearby Hunts Hall. William's sister Leah is beautiful, but elusive. As much as Abigail could use a friend, Leah is polite but somewhat reclusive and keeps her distance. William is drawn to Abigail, but knows he doesn't have a chance with her.

There is so much to learn about Pembrooke manor and the people who lived there before. Their history is entwined with the area - from servants to nobility. Including an old friend of Abigail's whom she thought she would marry but now seems more interested in her sister. There are new neighbors who are a part of London's society and familiar with them all. Add a mysterious Pembrooke cousin who used to live at the manor who shows up just after it has been restored and manages to become their guest. And then there are the unsigned letters sent only to Abigail with brief insights as to what had once happened there.

There are balls, intricate romances, feelings of unworthiness, old secrets and a mysterious hooded stranger roaming about. There's a race to discover the treasure and old wounds uncovered. And lots of danger lurking just about everywhere. This is a long read, and difficult to put down. It's also full of faithful lessons and the truth of where our treasures lie. If you're not already a fan of Julie Klassen, you will be after reading this!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

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The Advent Bride by Mary Connealy

A sweet historical romance, perfect for the holidays.
 
Melanie Douglas has come to be a teacher on the plains of Nebraska. All alone in the world, she was grateful to find this position. But the lady she has to stay with treats her worse than a slave. A woman whom the town listens to because of the money she contributes.

A very unruly boy comes back to school after helping on his father's farm. His mother has died so Melanie tries to be patient, but he is disruptive to the whole class and it just keeps getting worse. So she decides to keep him after school and give his father a piece of her mind.

Turns out Henry O’Keeffe is the new sheriff. He's holding down the job so that he and his son can be in town, plus going out to his ranch each day to keep it going. He's not in the mood to listen to her complain about his son.

Melanie, completely miserable in her attic room and spending her night in prayer, finds a strange box that somehow gives her hope. As she explores it, she thinks of an idea to bring Henry and his son closer together. But it ends up bringing them all a measure of happiness and changes all their lives.

The 12 Brides of Christmas! You're invited to a Christmas wedding...that is twelve of them!  Discover the joy of an old-fashioned Christmas romance with these twelve heart-warming stories. The Advent Bride is one of these.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc., Shiloh Run Studios and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".

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A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings

Trust in God's plan, not on our own understanding.

Abigail's father died in a riding accident and her mother remarried - to a man who sold off all her father's horses and falsely accused Abigail of stealing his watch, forcing her out of the house and family since her mother sided with him. So she left, looking for a way to support herself and went into nursing.

This book starts out in 1865 at the Yankee Gratiot Street Prison, St Louis, Missouri.  The war is just ending, but she's helping a Confederate soldier  who isn't going to make it.  After much consideration, as he's about to die, Abigail agrees to marry the man to inherit and take care of his Ozark horse farm, his mother and his ailing sister.  She welcomes the chance for a new life and is taken in right away and loved by his mother, but the sister is very ill and very difficult.

With a wound from the war that never healed properly, Jeremiah searches everywhere for his best friend but finally gives up and returns home after the war is over.  Loving Laurel is what got him through it all, and he's looking forward to marrying her as soon as he gets home. But he is greatly surprised to find that a woman is living in his home claiming to be his wife. A woman he's never met!

Life after the war is nearly as difficult as it had been getting through it. There are all kinds of criminals roaming the land looking to prey on people. The fields have been neglected. Most of their horses have been sold or taken.  It's time to rebuild - lives as well as surroundings. This is a lovely story of regeneration and learning to give in to the plan that God has for us all, of  letting go and learning to love and trust others. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

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Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund

Faith, forgiveness and romance in 1859 Michigan.

After reading the novella that came before, I was eager to read this next book in the series and was engulfed/immersed within the first couple of chapters. I love historical fiction and it's interesting to learn new things as you read. I didn't realize that there were pirates on the Great Lakes. And I never thought of how hard it would be to keep a lighthouse beam going all night, every night. Or that there would be people who didn't want it to shine - for their own gain.

Patrick has an ugly past and has come to the lighthouse on Presque Isle. He doesn't mind the lifestyle. He was saved and is befriended by Holy Bill, who helped to find this job. Grateful for a new chance, Patrick came there with his wife and toddler, and his wife has just died.

Emma and her brother are on a steamship that has been attacked by pirates. Maybe they should have stayed on Mackinac. But this was a chance for both of them for a new life.  It had been a struggle since coming over from Ireland. Their mother died of starvation, and their father didn't cope well. Forced to jump into the lake and hang onto a barrel, Emma and Ryan are rescued by Patrick and taken to shore.  They both look for work in an area where jobs are scarce.

Patrick buries his wife and is in desperate need of someone to look after his boy.  In fact little Josiah runs up to Emma who had been watching the funeral. Holy Bill has been praying for Patrick and a better life for him. He encourages Emma and Patrick to be married that day so that she can take care of the boy and Patrick both.  Emma had thought herself unattractive and that she'd never find a husband. She is grateful for a way to take care of herself and also have a real home and family - as well as stop being a burden to her brother.  

There is a lot of romantic tension as Emma and Patrick get to know one another and begin a new life where they both may finally have a chance at happiness. There's a lot to tell about their past, but when is it ever a good time?  In Patrick's case, will that telling make them lose the ground that they have gained? And then there are rumors about how his wife died, spread by his wife's cousin - who befriends Emma.

This is an excellent story and the characters are fully dimensional.  I enjoyed getting to know them and see how their lives would play out. I was sorry to give this only four stars. As much as I loved the story, I did feel that it went on a little too long. I started to lose interest about 2/3 of the way through but read it to the end and and was glad to see how it wrapped up.  I really loved the cover on this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

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Out of the Storm (Beacons of Hope): A Novella by Jody Hedlund

A lovely story, so well written you feel like you're there. It's 1854. Isabelle grows up with her father being a lighthouse tender on Presque Isle, Michigan. Her mother has died from a fall in the light house, and Isabelle is protected by her father - so she doesn't fall and because of her eyesight. She sketches all things she finds beautiful in an effort to memorize them. She's resigned herself to the fact that no man would ever want her.

Shipwrecks are what the lighthouse is there to avoid, but sometimes it just isn't enough. Henry floated ashore on a piece of wreckage, half unconscious with a bullet in his leg. He's holding onto the hand of his business assistant - who hasn't survived. He's also in shock from the cold of the water. Isabelle and her father bring him to shore and give him care.

Therein lies the tale where lonely Isabelle cares for Henry, a handsome, wealthy businessman in a very dangerous situation. And the lake is just about to freeze over. A romance sure to tug at your heart and make it sing! I'm reading the next in the series now.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html

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The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson

This book is a pretty quick read and has all the things I look for in a good book: Christian values and faith, dimensional characters, a bit of romance and tugs on the heartstrings. And cats!

Garrison has been in Uganda digging wells, but had to return home to the states because of a bad bout with malaria. Just as he's getting back on his feet with a new job opening, he learns that his Grandmother has passed away. A widow, she raised him after his parents died. Mostly because she missed Garrison after he went away to college, Gram accumulated several cats. In her will she had some complicated requests for placing the cats - which he is extremely allergic to. Garrison loved his Grandmother deeply, so he moves into her home and does his best to comply with her wishes in placing the cats - particle mask, allergy meds and all.

While on that journey he gets to know the present day community better, and it brings him into contact with several neighbors and their lives. Everything is good as these encounters enrich (almost) everyone's lives and the cats grow on him. There might even be romance and a reason to stay. Plus some Christmas bonuses all around! A great holiday read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Revell - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html


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