The Wessex Turncoat by Michael E Wills

 

A personification of history. Aaron is a young man, a good kid, who when he travels alone to a nearby city is treated to a very rough deal, changing his life. He is basically shanghaied into the British army and put on a boat to fight in Canada and America during the revolutionary war. Very detailed historical tale yet told from Aaron's personal view, making it easy to understand and envision. Men and women readers alike have to love this kid. You easily become attached and want only the best for him, although he has a rough life and it's rarely easy for him. From a British perspective, but fair to both sides. Interesting ending makes you want to know more. Good long read. 99.9% clean read. 

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky

 

I absorbed this book, got lost in it. A continuing story of British Home Children who were sent to Canada. This is what happened to Grace who was seven when they came to Canada. She was adopted right away by a wealthy family who tried to hide the fact that Grace was a British Home child and the stigma that went with it. The story jumps to her coming out debut at 17, when she discovered an old trunk in the attic that had an address on it. She remembered her mother and brother and sisters and tried to contact them. They had been searching for her all that time. Her brother returns from war with a story of his own and it unfolds. Well told, with never a dull moment. Christian values while finding their own strength and worth and a murder mystery unfolds. Brilliant!
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.

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Unyielding Hope by Janette Oke; Laurel Oke Logan

A story of Home Children who were sent from England to Canada. Lillian has lost her mother and is about to travel overseas with her adopted father when she is made aware of her birth parents' estate in the US and that her sister had actually survived. She stays behind determined to find her sister. Even though others had already tried to find her sister, Lillian's insight makes it possible. When she finds Grace, she learns that she has been caring for outcasts from an orphanage and then becomes involved herself.  A very interesting story of love in a family of a different kind. It brings to life what was possible in the lives of children who were taken away, with no control, from their country and given away, often with no follow up.
It takes special people to be foster her parents. I am acquainted with a young woman who has such a heart for children. I have the utmost respect for her and her family, and the difficulties they have been though. And that's without changing countries. This book has beautiful and special characters to get to know. God's lessons and wisdom unfold. I can't wait until the next book!

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. #UnyieldingHope #NetGalley

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One More River to Cross by Jane Kirkpatrick

Most of this is facts that the author found in research. One of the first wagon trains to travel this area.

In the epilogue Jane said she hoped that this story might celebrate the honor of self-sacrifice, the wisdom of working together, and the power of persevering through community and faith. She did that exactly. This story is set in 1844 as a wagon train is progressing across country towards Oregon first then changing to California, which was still Mexican at the time. A fairly easy trip for the first part, they didn't take into the account the high mountains and altitude around Lake Tahoe, and thought California only had warm temperatures. Never expecting the deep, deep snow in the mountains. These became tremendous obstacles for them. Most were Irish, some from Canada.  Good old Irish stubbornness, brains and tenacity came into play as they determined to live and move to their goal. Women were expected to follow without question or input, not expected to think. This group of Irish girls got tired of that and when left to themselves learned what they needed to and proved resourcefulness of their own,  as the men left and forged ahead without them. As with all of Jane's books, there are always lessons to be learned that will apply to women everywhere, anytime.

Quotes
“An old Indian once told me, ‘When you come to a wide chasm— jump. It’s not as wide as you think.’ We had no alternative but to jump and so we did.”

“Taking things apart to re-create them,” Mary said. “That’s happening to us too,” Sarah said. “We’re having to remake ourselves here.” And so they did.

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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No Ocean Too Wide A Novel by Carrie Turansky

It's hard not to read ahead. 1909 England. Excruciating story of a poor family from London. The father had died and the mother got sick. The oldest girl was in service some distance away. When the rent wasn't paid on time and they didn't have enough to eat, the boy tried to steal some bread to feed them and was caught, starting an avalanche of problems. The three were put into a children's home, then sent to Canada, thinking their mother had died and their older sister didn't care. The story is written with great detail and each character comes fully to life. 

Great injustice and bright light shown on the holes in the system of removing children from England. Between the 1860s and the 1930s, more than one hundred eighteen thousand poor and orphaned children were sent to Canada as British Home Children. Much good was done when good people were involved, but so much cruelty took place for many unfortunate children, and no good system was in place to put it in check. This story also tells of two good men who were sent to investigate the system, and how they became involved. And the relationship of Laura, the oldest daughter and Andrew a wealthy lawyer who helped them all. Excellent read that will keep you on edge throughout. If not for the underlying story of God's grace and love, it would be so much harder yet to read. You feel a relationship with each of the characters as their story is brought to light.

"If she found Jesus in the pages of that Bible, she would have a friend who would never leave her side . . . and that was what she needed most for the journey ahead."

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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Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

"So many stories. In this pocket of a harbor where broken lives, like waves upon the shore, are gathered up and held close."

Set in Maine starting before WW2, on the coast, in the uppermost corner, near Canada. A rugged, weather worn area of strong people. This is a story that grabs you right in the first few lines, and gives you a perfect image and feeling of what is to follow. Layer upon layer of beautiful life, heartbreak and again beauty. Such depth of feeling. Weaving through time - back and forth together. Perfectly woven. A story so richly told that you can almost see God's hand around them. Christian Historical.

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 Best of Intentions by Susan Anne Mason

An excellent story, when 3/4 through I couldn't put it down! Just after WWII was over, Grace had travelled from England to Toronto Canada. Once there she found that she had lost her sister, so she posed as a nanny to her nephew in order to be close to him. As a servant she was disdained by some of the family, yet her personality, faith and kindness drew her to others  - though they didn't know her secret or real social standing. You're brought into the depth of the hearts of this family and it doesn't disappoint. Grab the tissues towards the end though!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing - 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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Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

 A slow, comfortable read.

Trust can be tricky - and depends a lot on the people you put your faith in. Sometimes we can be too trustful, sometimes not trusting enough. Most of us feel we're a good judge of character, and many of us have been fooled. This is an excellent example of how each can be the case.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series (this is the second). For some reason this one didn't hold my interest as well. The continuation of the gentle character of Beth Thatcher is wonderful as are the biblical life lessons. After going away from home and becoming the teacher for a small town in Canada, Beth returns home to spend time with her family and wait to hear if she will be asked back again to teach. Her relationship with the Mountie Jarrick was just beginning, so as much as she has missed her family, she has mixed feelings about going back. Her family goes on a steamship tour for the summer, leaving lots of time to think and pray. But then an on-board mystery develops involving trust of another kind.

Great quote from the book: "All we can do is to keep turning each other toward the truth - to a God who loves and cares for us..." Loved the cover.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - 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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