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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To Everything a Season by Lauraine Snelling

Another addition to the series set in Blessing, ND in the 1900's, this is the first in a new series. If you haven't read the previous books about the Red River Valley, you will still enjoy this book. If you have read the original series, you'll be pleasantly pleased that the story of the people of Blessing is continuing.

Learning to know each character is enjoyable - they are all three dimensional and for the most part each is quite loveable. You get so involved with the entire community as the small town continues to grow. You want to know more about each of the original cast and their descendants as they live and love, have children and contribute to the town. 

Initially, the Bjorklund brothers bring their families from Norway to begin a new life on the land they will turn from prairie to fertile farms, and later into a thriving town. They bring other family over to join them with the promise of land - which is scarce in their homeland. The continuing story of Haaken and Ingeborg and all the family is heartbreaking and poignant.  But there is also a new romance that begins in this book between Trygve Knutson and Miriam Hastings.

Trygve has been traveling with a well drilling crew, which is a successful business for  his Uncle. Even though he enjoys traveling, something tells him it's time to stay home and work on the family farms again.

Miriam lives in Chicago and is going to nursing school. She has a very ill mother and also siblings that she is trying to care for and support by getting her nursing degree. She is such a gifted nurse that she is selected to travel to Blessing to continue her instruction - for a year.  It's excruciating to leave them, but her instructors make it possible for her to go. Once in Blessing, she falls in love with the area that is so very much different from the city.  The lifestyle is more like what her mother has talked about as how she grew up.

Through circumstances at the hospital and with the founding families, Trygve and Miriam go through a crisis that touches them both. It also shows the level of faith that each has and their perception of how God influences their lives. 

There is another new element brought to the town - a Catholic priest and the growing population in the town who follow that faith rather than the Protestant religion of the original founders.  Conflict builds as to whether or not they will allow this to happen.

I am a huge fan of Lauraine Snelling's work. This is a welcome opportunity to see how the residents of the Red River Valley handle life, their faith and their growing town.  I love that it's not a fast read, but instead is quite intricate. It's not really about the romance between just two people - it's about all the characters in the town and their relationships. The only thing that I was disappointed with in this book is the somewhat abrupt ending. I know that the series will continue the story about Trygve and Miriam, but I wasn't ready for this book to end yet.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from Bethany House - 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 Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller

Synopsis from the book
In the clay-rich hills of the newly founded state of West Virginia, two families tentatively come together to rebuild a war-torn brickmaking business.
Ewan McKay has immigrated to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial help. Uncle Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, and it's Ewan's job to get the company up and running again.
Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he quickly feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Resolving that he'll make the brickworks enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Ireland, Ewan pours all his energy into the new job.
But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work is put in jeopardy. As his hopes for the future crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. Can she help him save the brickworks, and will Ewan finally get a shot at winning her heart?

My review
This was not one of my favorite books, but it was definitely worth the read. Overall I really like seeing an Irish immigrant overcome society's pregidouses. A man of faith, hard working and doing what is right, who catches a break. It's also nice to see strong women with rich lives hold their own in business and society, who also have great faith, kindness and genuinely help others. 

Laura is repressed as well as Ewan, but in different ways. There are moments of faith interspersed that show strength of character in each. Ewan made a statement - here's part of it: "...love and bricks both need a slow, steady burn in order to become strong and withstand the test of time..." That to me is what this story is about.  

I was very interested to learn more about brickmaking. There were several things I didn't know about the process. You don't just scrape the clay into a mold, unmold and let it dry.  In addition to being backbreaking, there are a lot of important details and skill involved. 

This was not a quick read for me but sometimes that is exactly what you want.  It is a satisfying historical love story well worth your time.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from Bethany House - 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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NKJV Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible by Phil and Al Robertson

What a treasure! The bible itself is a multifaceted jewel. This beautiful book adds several additional layers and make it not only interesting reading but a valuable tool as well.

My husband and I share our phone, tablet, ipad and computer. He has no interest in the romance books that I download, but he was definitely interested in this book.  We are all fans of the Robertsons and Duck Commander.  Ray's son even sports a Robertson-like beard and really resembles Jase. 

In this book you'll find:
The complete NKJV bible
52 Daily Devotions by Phi and Al each
Life Changers - 30 days
The ABCs of Salvation
30 Days With Jesus
Ministry of Jesus
Parables of Jesus
Miracles of Jesus
Miracles of the Apostles
There's even a Set Your Sites Index

So much more than a bible, spend daily time in His word, enjoying the company of Phil and Al as well.  Plus it's a great study and bible reference.Not the kind of book you sit down and read all at once, this book is a keeper to read a little bit every day.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz

This is one of those books you don't want to end. Not that you don't want to know how everyone's lives will turn out, but they're such good company you don't want them to leave.  Honestly, this is a book that you wrap around and snuggle into.  It's a continuing story of the Ballantynes, a talented family from humble roots that works hard and smart, and becomes very successful.  They are all beautiful, vulnerable in some way, have strong Christian faith and love deeply.  And there is always someone in the community who is trying to take them down.

In this book Wren and her father are living in rural Kentucky; her mother has died.  Her father's family, the Ballantynes, call him back home, believing that the danger that sent them away is over.  They have been a talented musical family, making and playing unique violins and other stringed instruments. They go back to the Ballantyne family businesses and high society in Pittsburgh PA - a drastically different environment than Wren is used to. But she has loving (and unloving) family all around her even though her father is almost immediately sent away on business.

James is a steamship pilot for the Ballantynes, and has been raised as part of the family after being rescued from an orphan home. He is the utmost gentleman, trusted by her father and acts as Wren's escort  for her debutant season.

Their story is filled with the trials of high society in the mid 1800's and what is expected of them, as well as the dangers of being abolitionists secretly helping the underground railroad.  Mix in several types of personalities of those with wealth and plenty, adding pride of workmanship, family legacy and the choices they make. This and the others in the series are some that you will remember for a long time - the kind of book that you keep.

I received this book from Revell publishers, https://www.netgalley.com/ and http://www.bookfun.org in return for my honest review.

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