Deepest Roots of the Heart by Chautona Havig

I hate to judge a book by it's cover, but I put off reading this one because of it. The description sounded good, but the cover made it look boring. Not so at all - it's an excellent read! This is a historical romance within a historical romance.  Very well written, you form a bond with each of the characters. You can feel the depth of family honor, tradition and history of Avelino Carrillo. He returns from fighting WW2 in the Philippines with the intention of getting back his home and vineyard that has been in the family for generations.  It was nearly lost by his brother and signed over to a landshark, but Avelino is able to make a deal with him to earn it back by working in the vineyards for no salary for seven years. A deal that may not be what it seems.

The property has been rented out by the landshark. Thinking to rub it in, he sends Avelino to live in the garage apartment instead of the house. But Avelino is able to make a connection with the renters, Amelia and her Grandfather, who have a great respect for the Carillos and have started to restore the vines and vineyard.

Avelino is a talented storyteller,and little by little tells the story of the first Avelino who fought in the Mexican-American war and made his way from Texas to found the Ranchero. And he tells the story of his Great-Great Grandmother, whom Amelia resembles.  Amelia becomes entranced with the history and with Avelino. Between the stories and the struggles with day to day life, love begins to take root and entwine itself around them. But prejudice seems to surround Avelino wherever he goes, and he does not want to expose her to that.  Also his family is traditionally Catholic, hers is Baptist.  There is strength and honor in both families. Things are not always what they seem and a great deal is revealed about the townspeople. This is book one in a new series. I can't wait to read the next!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterfall Press- 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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Brentwood's Ward by Michelle Griep

1807 England. Enter hero Nicholas Brentwood and damsel Emily Payne. Reminiscent of the Thin Man stories, complete with steamy scenes and a dog. Add in the solid faith of our hero, and you have an excellent tale.

Nicholas has a sister who is dying. He needs the money from this job to pay for medical expenses and a better place to live. He's a Bow Street Runner, not that he'd call himself that. It doesn't pay the bills though, so taking on detective jobs is a must. The Judge really has a good one for him this time, one that no one else would take. But the large fee is one he can't afford to turn down.

Emily is the daughter of a very wealthy man. Her one goal for this season is getting herself a husband. Immature and careless of her staff, shopping fills her time as she looks for the perfect trappings. After disobeying her father, she slips back home only to find him gone and a guardian in his place. A very shrewd one at that, one whom she can't slip. Question was, why does she need a guardian, let alone a Runner?

Each of them face death and danger, as someone is out to make Emily pay for her father's business dealings. She has no one to turn to, including her so called friends in high society.  Nicholas's faith is brought to front time and again, and is Emily's saving. They both learn that God is in control, and to place their faith in Him to bring them through. Excellent read! A bit tedious at first, then a page burner.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing, Inc, Shiloh Run Press - 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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Destiny by Don Brown

Excellent book! This is one of those stories you read that would really make a great movie. One that guys and women both love. It's historical fiction set during WW2, with a message of salvation. There's romance throughout the book, but it's not the frilly kind - it's the real kind. Secrets kept, secrets revealed.


And there's an interesting twist to this one. This is told from more than one perspective. It follows the lives of men from different geographical areas and views of the war - an Englishman, a German and American brothers, how they are pulled into fighting the war and what became of them. Their families are included in the stories; how they cope with the circumstances and all that they face. It goes to England, Scotland, Africa, France, Japan, Germany and America. It also tells of the British invasion in France before Normandy, which I didn't know about. They're all entwined - each has an influence on the other men and their entire families. This was a page turner for me - I had a hard time putting it down.  A strong message of faith and redemption follows through, full circle.

Aptly put from the promo for the book: This much-anticipated prequel to Don Brown's acclaimed Navy Justice series is packed with the ravages of love and war, romance and family, and ultimately the power of faith.

I received this book from Mountainview Books LLC and BookFun in return for my honest opinion.
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Secrets of Sloane House (The Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series Book 1) by Shelley Gray

We're all ultimately alone in the world. When we're left alone we learn lessons that we would not have learned otherwise. When we struggle with things life hands us and get through, leaning on God's strength, we come out stronger for it.

It's 1893 Chicago and Rosalinds's sister Miranda has disappeared. She had traveled from their farm in Wisconsin to Chicago to be a maid in an elegant mansion, where she can earn money to send home to her family.  Their father had gone to see the police, but was told they had no information and could not help them.  So they sent their other daughter out to the same house, undercover, to see if she could find out what had happened to her.  A hard worker on the farm, she finds that acting as a maid is much different.  Everyone in the house is reticent to help her, saying she has to learn her own lessons and realize she needs to be helpful but invisible. The Sloane family is quite mean and selfish, except for glimpses of caring. The son of the family is a womanizer and takes advantage of the maids.  I think the instances of Rosalind being downtrodden, unliked and not fitting in is overdone. Being a mystery, clues about Miranda are dropped here and there throughout the story, enhancing the feeling of danger.

Reid is a friend of the Sloane son Douglas. Reid's family is wealthy because of a successful strike of silver, not from old money. So he has been sent to the best schools to learn how to act in high society. At school  for some reason he is rescued by Douglas, and thereafter follows him as an example and is a faithful friend. It's not until Rosalind is a maid at Sloane house that he starts becoming uncomfortable with Douglas' ways and he tries to protect her, later learning why she is there. Because the Sloanes are old society and have built a position of power they can get away with pretty much anything.

The writing is good and the characters are dimensional. For the most part I felt that the atmosphere was much too dark though. There were excellent lessons of faith and God's love interspersed throughout the story, but it felt like they were just dropped in. It wasn't until near the end of the book that you start to feel some light come into the story.

When we step out of our comfort zone we experience personal growth. Rosalind found out that she could do things that she would never have thought otherwise. The lack of Mother's love and caring showed with both characters. There were no loving dialogs from Rosalind's Mother in letters from home.  In Reid's Mother's case, she didn't check in on his younger brother until it was too late and his illness killed him.  I suppose that the feeling of aloneness would not have been so strong without  the family's absence.  The other thing that bothered me was that Rosalind didn't have many clues from Miranda's letters home as to what might have happened to her.  But when she writes home she withholds information and doesn't tell them things - so if she goes missing they would have the same problems.

I find it hard to say that I don't like a book. I read it through and look for the good points. I'm somewhat curious about the other characters in the story and what happens to them in the books to follow, but I wouldn't go out of my way to find them.  Maybe it's me, but this one just didn't hit me right. Even though I am a fan of the underdog, I feel this time it was overdone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher (Zondervan) through the BookLook Bloggers 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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Safe Haven by Anna Schmidt

I was blessed to read the first book in the Peacemakers series (All God's Children). It takes place in Germany and you get to know the characters living under Hitler's regime.  Although not necessary before reading this book, it does enrich the story by knowing the background of some of the characters; most of us know the depth of suffering that went on there. 

Part of my heritage is German, so I have a particular interest in this book. Adding to that, I grew up just hours away from Oswego, NY where most of this story is set, so I was vested. I'd love to know how my Grandmother and her family felt about all this at the time.  They lived so close to Oswego. Even though they had come over years before the war, I know that there was enough fear at that time that my Grandmother, named Wilhelmena after the Queen of Germany, started being called Mamie instead. 

Anna Schmidt is a gifted story teller. You are quickly taken to 1944 and get to know each character, how they feel and think.  I think this is one of the most difficult times in history to have lived, with so much daily struggle and heartache all throughout the world. But each also had times of joy and hope.

Safe Haven is about refugees from invaded countries during World War 2. Nearly 1000 people are brought into the US by President Roosevelt for shelter and taken to an old Army fort in Oswego. The only caveat - they all sign an agreement that after the war is over they will return to their own country. 

This makes for a great story and Suzanne, a reporter, needs a good story. She needs a break to get her career back after a huge mistake in falling for and trusting her source, a Congressman with his own agenda. Her publisher gives her another shot by recommending that she go to Oswego and get some human interest stories, as a freelance reporter.

Theo's Uncle, Aunt and young cousin are in the group that is sent to the fort. His family, Quakers, all agree that he should go to the fort, reassure their relatives, and do what he can to convince them and the government that they should come to live on the family farm in Wisconsin.

Also in the mix of characters is a POW, living in Oswego surprisingly with more privileges and freedom than the refugees. He was one of the Gestapo in Germany, and lends his own influence to the story.

Each of the characters has their own challenges in living and getting by day by day during this time, let alone for their future.  All need the grace of God for healing, forgiveness, renewal, hope, growth, loving and moving forward. It's wonderfully told - I recommend this book and series to anyone and everyone. Lots of romantic tension.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing, Inc, Shiloh Run Press - 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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