Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

"Be discreet. Wise as serpents , harmless as doves. . ."
1861 in Savanna, Georgia. A young girl of society who has epilepsy struggles with the shame that her family puts on her because of her illness. She's very restricted. She has a fit at a dance just seconds before it's announced that the Civil War had begun. Kizzie loves the slaves in their household, so abolitionism is not a bad idea for her, and she looks for ways to be involved in the Underground Railroad. She's good at it, until her cousin comes to stay with them. Micah has loved Kizzie for years but has secrets that keep him from telling her.  He is a doctor who becomes involved with taking care of Union soldiers. Thus unfolds a very well told, interesting account of people who lived at that time, and their reasons for choosing the sides they chose. Good Christian guidance. Easy to get lost in.

"I wrestled with the Almighty through most of it, but there’s great peace in surrender.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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Across A Broken Shore

Plunge the heights and the depths.
This is set at the time when the Golden Gate bridge was being built, and in the depression. Willa is an Irish Catholic girl. Something I know a little bit about. Most of us girls in parochial school loved the nuns who were our teachers, and we even thought of becoming one. Willa had made a promise to enter the convent, but she found her real calling when her brother cut his fingers off and she took him to a doctor - a woman doctor. Years back she had found a medical book and secretly memorized it. So in helping the doctor with her brothers hand, the doctor began to see the promise and skill in Willa. She returned and worked with the him in secret, all while the deadline for her to go the the Convent loomed. In this time she also met Sam, another changing influence on her life. Told with passion for her calling, deep pain in events in her life and glimpses of happiness from doing what God created her to do. Very real all the way through. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen. Excellent read. Great cover!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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Sew In Love

4 Historical Stories
by Debby Lee; Jacquolyn McMurray; Darlene Panzera; Kimberley Woodhouse

"This was supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. A place where all men were equal. If only that were true for women. And women who were Irish."

Unconnected stories sewn together of people from 1850 to 1911 to 1945.
A girl sailing to Sacramento to meet her fiance during the gold rush, a girl in Alaska who meets a soldier in the hospital, a girl in New York City who survives a fire and a union worker, and an Irish girl who meets a baseball player. They all sew, and its a strength in their lives. Interesting stories to get completely lost in. Very well written, with great depth. All so completely different. Love that cover.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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Cameo Courtships

4 Stories of Women Whose Lives Are Touched by a Legendary Gift
by Susanne Dietze, Debra E Marvin, Jennifer Uhlarik, Kathleen Y'Barbo

“I know the cameo did not bring me love, of course. But the gift of it coincided with the arrival of love, both for the queen and for me, and I hope it will bring the same to you.”

From 1851 to 1898 stories of a loving family that weave together smooth as silk. Tied together by a cameo given to just the right woman at just then right time. Diverse stories, all very interesting and spellbinding in their own way. With Christian lessons throughout. Wonderfully written. Great entertainment to get lost in. One of those really good books to curl up with, that doesn't go by too fast and each folds into the next even though they are all so different.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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Aiming For Love by Mary Connealy

"Had her life, lived so alone, made her the purest form of herself? "
1873 Colorado. Oh I like this girl. I was totally captivated in the first few sentences. I want to be her, wish I had her skills. I've always loved the woods and have been interested in living off the land, but these sisters take it seriously. Taught by their Grandparents, who have passed away. Their Grandmother making them afraid of people. But Jo is a curious girl, which is what gets the story going. The Wardens come under attack and have to run from their ranch. They think that the girl's need their help, but find it's the other way around.
My only complaint is that the book ends before the story is over far enough, so it becomes a cliff hanger.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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 Song Of Joy by Lauraine Snelling

"In His time, God will make it clear to you. Thank Him in advance for His answers.”
1911 What a joy to be back in Blackduck, Minnesota, with these special people again. We say this was a simpler time, but there was so much work in day to day things. Like using the telephone. We all have one on us these days. Back then, not all houses had one. You had to go into town to use one. People communicated by mail. Now I bet some do not even know what its like to receive a letter. Written in cursive.
A family of Norwegian immigrants, in a town made up of mostly that nationality. There is the farm where this family resides and grows, and they bring over family from Norway a little at a time. Hardworking, skilled people. And a wealthy widow in a nearby town who took in one of the girls to train and groom her as an assistant. I love how Lauraine brings in people from different generations, you learn about them, their likes and skills. It's fun to see potential and watch the young kids grow. Enriching to read. This is a year in the life of the lovely immigrant girl, Nilda, from Norway and how she settles in and learns from this wonderful woman, who has much to offer in loving kindness as well as money and prestige. This level of society and family money are not without responsibility or family struggle for control. Nilda is still shaking off the death of the man who harmed her in the previous book. God has a plan for her, which unfolds gracefully through the pages. A book that makes you feel warm all over inside - as Lauraine is so skilled at doing.

Quote
“You all work hard.” “That’s what it takes to survive out here. And we want to do more than survive.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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The Orphan Daughter by Sheila Riley

"Using the only weapon in her armory, she attacked with her tongue as a form of defense."
1947 England. An agonizing story of a family and their neighbors in post war poverty, fighting to live in the ruins and through rationing. Evie is trying her best to better herself, earn a higher wage and bring her brother and sister home from Ireland where they had been evacuated to a relatives house. Her mother was pretty rough around the edges and took up with questionable men after her father had been killed in the War. There's an undercurrent of crime in the area loosely tied to the black market. Every one of the people in this community are tough, survivors. There are some interesting twists and mysteries, and you can't help but want the best for these people. Lots of depth and a storyline that keeps you involved to the last page, wondering about a sequel. 

Quotes

"The war years had given them a determination to get on with life, tomorrow could take care of itself."

"Optimism. Anticipation. Love. And most of all that inner strength that made anything, and everything, seem possible."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea

Iceland 1686. It makes me wonder why people stay, try to live on in a place that is so formidable. Where people starve or die from such cold.  I found this to be a very bleak story. Since it was so well written, I pushed on, looking for hope within the story for these characters, but it's slim. People survive, life continues. At this time and in this area people know Christianity but still have legends, old ways, in their makeup. In a small town there is much gossip, a way of passing time, and these people are very suspicious of others. Unsure of their own safety. I thought the cover of this book was stunning.

Quotes
A woman made of glass and stillness: perfect but easily shattered.

And yet when a stone is caught in a rushing river, what choice does it have but to move?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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 Love Restored

What an easy read. The pages just fly by as you spend time getting to know Ruth Ann. She's a lovely girl, inside and out. People judge others by the way that they look, and can be mean when someone doesn't come up to whatever standards they've set. But many times when they are, it's based on something in themselves that is lacking. Adversity builds strength in those who are abused. Verbal abuse is every bit as bad as physical abuse.
Ruth Ann is from a wealthy family and gives herself to others. It's after the war, she has a soft spot for educating black people. Others in her society and in the community don't like it. Excellent read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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.”

"Her quiet confidence and inner strength resulted from a deep abiding faith in God that made him a better man just by being with her."

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Hearts of Oak by Berryl Kingston

“No point meeting trouble half way. If ’tis coming, ’tis coming, and we’ll face it when we must."

What an unusual story, and one of the best kind that brings history to life. It would be an interesting but dry one if not for getting to know these characters and their own story. It's early 1800 in England and Lord Nelson is about to go to sea to find and fight Napoleon and the French. Jen and Marianne were just married, off to a bad start on their wedding night when he went to a pub. There he was drugged and signed into service. When Marianne heard of it, she searched for him then dressed in her brother's clothes and signed up too. She hadn't taken into consideration the size of the fleet, and ended up with her own adventures, even finding two friends who were also girls disguised as boys. Never a dull moment! Their story takes you all through the years and final battle where they won the war and lost Lord Nelson. I never would have thought to tell the story this way. It makes it easy to absorb the history lesson and easily picture it all. Excellent read. There is some brief, mild sexuality that I didn't feel was necessary. Beautiful cover!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NetGalley and the Publishers. 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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Christmas at Whitefriars: A Novella by Elizabeth Camden

Completely engaging. This is a companion book A Dangerous Legacy. It's not necessary to read the other book, but it's great to recognize those friends in this book too. 1912 England. Mary lives at the family's old castle, and was tasked with the job of renovating it. A huge undertaking. She's in England, her brother and their investor are in America, so she's doing everything alone. Everett is an American, of a manufacturing family company that bought the castle for the image it lent to their food products. Products that interestingly enough were developed by Everett, who loves creating recipes as much as he loves business, and he is good at both. He was at first not understanding of Mary's position of how the castle was being run. The castle is dear to her heart. It's dear to Everett because of the fortune he's invested in it. It makes for a really really good story, and is hard to put down. Christian Historical

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers. 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 Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas

Nothing short of what you'd expect from Sherlock Holmes, or maybe something more - since this Sherlock is a woman, pretending to be her brother Sherlock. Deductive reasoning at its best, with ribbons of facts and characters woven along. Anyone versed with Sherlock Holmes stories is frozen with fear at the name of Moriarty, and that person is in this story as well. Deep plot with both the story and regular characters. It would be good to see this in a movie. Charlotte and her crew go under cover at a French mansion to pull off an impossible theft. A mansion complete with secret underground passages. Scary stuff!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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The Daughter of Hardie

"She was as frightened as he was when she said goodbye , and spent sleepless hours that week trying to see into the future."
Interesting book. England 1898. Near Oxford. Clean read. Mostly about Grace, who because of her health has a special gift that benefits her and her family. Taking them from when she is six until 30, it explores her world, why and how she feels what she does, thinks like she does. They have a family winery, but her father is a botanist who has gone on a trip back to China and not come back. This is the area where her mother had gone with him just after getting married. As the story unfolds the war starts and affects them all, of course. Different twists and turns as it goes along. It does make you want to read the next one.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen

1819 England. Murder mystery. Information slowly unfolds. Isabelle can't leave the island where her home is, believing a curse after her parents and sister are tragically killed. The man, a distant uncle, who is running the estate treats her and her niece terribly and wants to sell part of her island off. He is murdered in London, something discovered by Benjamin, a young lawyer in the firm. It would have looked different if not for his excellent power of observation and detail. He had lost a case, and the elder law partner sent him out to Belle Island to uncover information. Isabelle is suspected even though she hasn't been able to leave the island for many years. Interesting and endearing characters and this small community unfold as you get to know them and the information winds out. As it nears the end the story gets intense and is impossible to put down. The story is set in a time before the establishment of a centralized police force as we know it today. Excellent Christian historical that you can expect from Julie Klassen. Struggles with insecurities and forgiveness are themes.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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All Hearts Come Home For Christmas

"His enthusiasm for life was contagious, and when I was with him everything seemed larger. It was as if a vast existence that had never touched my being before had been opened up to me."

Perfect stories of love, at Christmas or any time of the year. Truly a special collection. Don't you just love that cover?

England 1816. Interesting twist, as the story begins with a seven year old boy who, because of the death of his father, has just become a Duke. The twist being that the story is about his mother, who had abandoned him. And the Vicar, also a lonely person.

London 1820 A young girl is working in a dress shop for nothing more than food to eat and a place on the floor to sleep when a gentleman stops in the shop with a button off his coat, and ends up asking if she'd come to care for his house, daughter and Aunt. An answer to prayer, and a great blessing.

London, 1814
Elizabeth wants to get out of going to the Ton's social events and away from her mother's attempts at match making, so she chooses to call out a confirmed bachelor and behave just slightly inappropriately so she'll have to sit out the season. She gets more than she expected!

Yorkshire, 1816
Nell, after her Pastor father died had to take a job as a seamstress. Jacob returned home after his cruel father died to care for his sister. When he had Nell come to the house to fit Alice with a new wardrobe, all of their lives turned for the better.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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.”

"Though Christmas remained a number of weeks away, a whisper of it hung in the air."

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Once Upon A Dickens Christmas

"My mother— God rest her—always told me to think of eternity, then live backward from that. Such a view has a way o’ whittlin’ down our current troubles to a size we can crumple up into a ball and toss aside.”
Do you love the classic dickens stories? This is a good addition to your library and a treasure. Full of similar hard times and strife in cruel times, where humanity triumphs. The first story is a fabulous mystery that will keep you guessing to the last. A second chance coin threads it's way through all of the stories. Of course with these authors you can't go wrong. Curl up with this book as soon as you get a chance. You'll love it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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.”

"We are all different.We all bear one cross or another. And because of it, do we not each face our own particular cruelties?”

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The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection

Wow. What a fabulous collection. These are all special, deep and involved stories. Well worth the read, whether it's Christmas time or not. Highly recommended to keep your attention. Not your run of the mill romances.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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Tiny Tim and the Ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge

Excellent short story. A continuation of the beloved Dickens Christmas story with a pure Christian message.

Except for the times I breathe in, I think of you only when I breathe out...
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher's 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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