Showing posts with label English. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English. Show all posts

Sunday, November 17, 2024

The Liberty Scarf by Aimie K. Runyan; J'nell Ciesielski; Rachel McMillan

 


A Story of Three Women, One War, and a Scarf That Binds Them Together

A treasure of a book. Brilliantly and beautifully written, gently woven together. Three special and unique couples to get to know and love in stories taking place during WW1. Heart melting and heartbreaking, a lovely scarf and its design lightly tie them together. This is a keeper, should be a classic, would make a lovely and thoughtful gift.

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.

#TheLibertyScarf #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #AimieKRunyan #JnellCiesielski #RachelMcMillan #HistoricalFiction #HarperMuse #HarperCollinsFocus

About the book

In the midst of a seemingly endless war, a scarf connects three women in the cold winter of 1917 . . .

London: As an ambitious scarf maker, Iris Braxton spends her days surrounded by color and luxury not often seen during the dark days of war that promised to be over by Christmas. That promise has come and gone for three years with still no end in sight and her days continue in a monotony of rations and threads while she spins a dream of becoming Liberty's first female pattern designer. She hasn't the time or interest in rakish soldiers, but the temporarily-on-leave Captain Rex Conrad is persistent--and before long his charm wins her over. But war is cruel and all too soon Conrad leaves once more for the Front, but not before vowing to meet again in Strasbourg, France, the most magical of Christmas cities. Iris begins stitching small messages into each of the scarves she makes in hopes that one will find a way into Rex's hands to let him know she's thinking of him. And when she receives word that he's wounded in Strasbourg, she rushes to his side. Along the way, she passes a woman wearing one of her scarves . . .

Maine: Genevive Tremblay, a French-Canadian immigrant, is a telephone operator living in Lewiston, Maine. Her beau is a member of a prominent family who has helped to Americanize her in a community often unfriendly to Canadians. As part of this effort, she enlists in the US Army Signal Corps to serve as a bi-lingual operator. Along the way, she meets a French officer who makes her question whether losing her identity is too heavy a price for acceptance.

Belgium: Clara Janssens, a Flemish Nurse, and Roman Allaire, an Alsatian violinist, connect in a Brussels palace-turned-hospital far beyond their routine provincial and countryside lives--and the expectations in those towns. Their love of music creates a spark between them, but the destruction of battle and the transient nature of their relationship threatens the bond they have built. Still, the appearance of a kind stranger and the unexpected gift of a treasured scarf bind them long beyond their stolen moments and offer them a future brighter than they could have even hoped.

Synopsis

From acclaimed authors Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan comes an evocative, three-part novel about a thread of connection during World War I--a single scarf that links three extraordinary women, each battling societal expectations, enduring the devastations of war, and striving for personal growth amidst the chaos. The Liberty Scarf is a testament to the resilience of women and the enduring power of hope and unity in the harshest of times.

In the midst of a seemingly endless war, a scarf connects three women in the cold winter of 1917 . . .

London: As an ambitious scarf maker, Iris Braxton spends her days surrounded by color and luxury not often seen during the dark days of war that were promised to be over by Christmas. That promise has come and gone for three years with still no end in sight, and her days continue in a monotony of rations and threads while she spins a dream of becoming Liberty's first female pattern designer. She hasn't the time or interest in rakish soldiers, but the temporarily-on-leave Captain Rex Conrad is persistent--and before long his charm wins her over. But war is cruel, and, all too soon, Conrad leaves once more for the Front, but not before vowing to meet again in Strasbourg, France, the most magical of Christmas cities. Iris begins stitching small messages into each of the scarves she makes in hopes that one will find a way into Rex's hands to let him know she's thinking of him. And when she receives word that he's wounded in Strasbourg, she rushes to his side. Along the way, she passes a woman wearing one of her scarves . . .

Maine: Genevi ve Tremblay, a French-Canadian immigrant, is a telephone operator living in Lewiston, Maine. Her beau is a member of a prominent family who has helped to Americanize her in a community often unfriendly to Canadians. As part of this effort, she enlists in the US Army Signal Corps to serve as a bi-lingual operator. Along the way, she meets a French officer who makes her question whether losing her identity is too heavy a price for acceptance.

Belgium: Clara Janssens, a Flemish Nurse, and Roman Allaire, an Alsatian violinist, connect in a Brussels palace-turned-hospital far beyond their routine provincial and countryside lives--and the expectations in those towns. Their love of music creates a spark between them, but the destruction of battle and the transient nature of their relationship threatens the bond they have built. Still, the appearance of a kind stranger and the unexpected gift of a treasured scarf bind them long beyond their stolen moments and offer them a future brighter than they could have even hoped.

The Liberty Scarf is more than a piece of fabric--it's a symbol of hope, resilience, and unity in the face of war, binding these three women together in an indelible bond. Experience their stories of love, sacrifice, and survival in this captivating novel from Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan.


My reviews

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book 4) by Shannon McNear

 


Virginia Dare was the first child born in the New World. This is a fictional account of what could have happened to her with actual historical information used. As a teenager she was captured by a hostile Native American tribe and forced to be a slave. Interesting entanglements take place and she escapes to return to her people. A lot has happened and she has left a lasting impression on those around her. A story of strong Christian faith and how it changes lives. Very realistic and interesting, to learn how Native Americans lived as well. Good long read. 

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

#Virginia #ShannonMcNear #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistoricalFiction #BarbourFiction 


About the Book

Book: Virginia (Daughters of the Lost Colony Book Four)

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Romance

Release date: September, 2024

The White Doe of the Outer Banks Grows into Womanhood

Return to the “what if” questions surrounding the Lost Colony and explore the possible fate of Virginia Dare–the first English child born in the New World. What happened to her after her grandfather John White returned to England and the colony he established disappeared into the mists of time? Legends abound, but she was indeed a real girl who, if she survived to adulthood, must have also become part of the legacy that is the people of the Outer Banks. In the spring of 1602 by English reckoning, “Ginny,” as she is called by family and friends, is fourteen and firmly considered a grown woman by the standards of the People. For her entire life she has watched the beautiful give-and-take of the Kurawoten and other native peoples with the English who came from across the ocean. She’s enjoyed being the darling of both English and Kurawoten alike—but a stirring deep inside her will not be put to rest.

One careless decision lands her and fellow “first baby” Henry Harvie, along with their Croatoan friend Redbud, in enemy hands. Carried away into Mangoac territory, out of the reach of Manteo and the others, she must learn who she truly is—not only the daughter of Elinor and Ananias Dare but also a child of the One True God, who gives her courage to go wherever the path of her life might lead.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of four novellas, the first a 2014 RITA® nominee and the most recent a 2021 SELAH winner, and six full-length novels. Her greatest joy, however, is in being a military wife, mom, mother-in-law, and grammie. She’s been a contributor to Colonial Quills and The Borrowed Book, and is a current member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

 

More fron Shannon

So—here we are! I am just so, SO, sooo blessed to get to be on Celebrate Lit yet again. And book FOUR of my Lost Colony series! Initially I thought two, maybe three books. I pretty much disregarded the possibility of writing Virginia Dare’s story because, well, there’s a good bit of mythology surrounding her, and I felt absolutely no inclination to tackle any of that.

Until early last year. The idea dropped into my head and seemed too obvious to turn away. I didn’t have much idea of what would actually happen in the story, although I knew I wanted to explore the identity of the Mangoac, who held the interior of what is now North Carolina and Virginia when the Spanish and the English first arrived in the New World. They spoke an Iroquoian language and were referred to with dread and distaste among all their neighbors, including the Powhatan. Those people are what we know now as the Tuscarora.

Little was known of the Tuscarora before John Lawson wrote of his journey through the Carolinas in 1700-01. A few years later, Lawson himself met with a fairly horrible death at the hands of the Tuscarora (one wonders what he might have done to tick them off), and tensions soon escalated between settlers and indigenous peoples into all-out war. After their defeat by the English, the Tuscarora people moved northward and became the sixth nation of the Iroquois Confederacy.

They call themselves Skaru:re—pronounced sgah-ROOO-rah (with that long “ooh” held out a little extra)—translated variously as “Long-Shirt People” or “Hemp People,” for the garments they would weave from “Indian hemp,” also known as milkweed. The Tuscarora word for milkweed does indeed contain the same root as Skaru:re, but no one knows when as a people they might have made the transition from merely using milkweed fiber for cording or twine to spinning and weaving it into fabric, as the English did flax for linen.

I decided to have a bit of fun in my story, then, with Ginny being questioned about the making of a linen garment, and then a later mention of a “rough, twiny fabric.” I’d meant to expand upon that a bit, or at least address it in the historical notes at the end—and then completely forgot until working through the galleys.

So I get to talk about it—now. 😊

You might guess that both details, which may feel random to the casual reader, are a nod to the translation of the name Skaru:re, and to the influence that either the Spanish or the English might have had on various Native people groups. A good author endeavors, of course, to not have any random details littering a story. In Virginia, many small things point back to previous stories—there are hints of connection to Rebecca as well even though either story could be read before the other. By the same token, all four books are what we could term alternate history—a reach beyond what is known into what might have been. I think it most likely that as Native peoples acquired European fashions, they used what they already had (in the case of the Skaru:re, a familiarity with milkweed and other materials to provide fiber) to produce garments and other items modeled after what the Spanish and English used. They were nothing if not eager to take advantage of new technologies—and what if their contact with members of the Lost Colony was what sparked the idea behind their famed “long shirts”?

A stretch, for sure. But there’s a reason why I’ve always enjoyed writing speculative fiction as well as historical. 😊

Blog Stops

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5458







My reviews
BarnesAndNoble

Monday, May 13, 2024

Lady Wynwood’s Spies #1 Archer by Camille Elliot

 

Wow, what a good book. Part 1 of an overall story that is spread over several books. A lot to take in with a lot of characters, including their relationship to each other in English society. Espionage, murder and people with special skills, all endearing in their own way. An especially dark threat to be out maneuvered for them and their country. Keeps you on your toes every moment. Very entertaining. Unconventional people who are quite real. I highly recommend this - you won't be bored!

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

#LadyWynwoodsSpies #Archer #CamilleElliott #CamyTang #ChristianHistoricalFiction #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout @CamilleElliott @CamyTang 

About the book from Amazon

Part one in a Christian Regency suspense series with slow-burn romance and a supernatural twist.

She met him again by shooting him.

Unmarried after four Seasons of towering over her dance partners, Miss Phoebe Sauber learns she will be cast out of her home when her father remarries. Feeling betrayed by her father and God, she misfires an arrow at an archery tournament.

But the arrow pierces a paper held by Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones. And strangely, the symbol drawn on the page is eerily familiar to her.

He met her again while searching for a killer.

Michael had quit his work as a spy for the Foreign Office when his brother was murdered. His investigation leads to Apothecary Jack, a criminal underworld lord gathering a powerful army through an alchemical potion that gives men supernatural strength.

Michael joins forces with Phoebe and her Aunt Laura, Lady Wynwood, who have found a vital connection between Apothecary Jack and a mysterious group plotting against England.

Now, only this team of misfit aristocratic spies stands against a treasonous organization that could enable Napoleon to conquer the world.

PLEASE NOTE: Like the novels published in Jane Austen’s time, this is a novel in multiple parts. Each volume has a completed story arc, but this is NOT a stand-alone novel and ends on a cliffhanger.

About the author
Camy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes Christian Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense as Camy Tang and Christian Regency Romantic Suspense under her pen name, Camille Elliot. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in northern California with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She graduated from Stanford University in psychology with a focus on biology, and for nine years she worked as a biologist researcher. Then God guided her path in a completely different direction and now she’s writing full time, using her original psychology degree as she creates the characters in her novels. She was a staff worker for her church youth group for over 20 years and she currently plays on one of the Sunday worship teams. She also loves to knit, spin wool into yarn, and is learning Japanese. Visit her websites at https://www.camytang.com/ and https://www.camilleelliot.com/ to read free short stories and subscribe to her monthly newsletter.

My reviews

Monday, April 15, 2024

Love’s Winding Road by Susan F. Craft

 



A treasure! Greatly touching love story combined with tragedy, sorrow, danger, attacks. A wagon train that went from Philadelphia to Georgia in the early 1700s. I hadn't heard of this trail before even though we live a bit north of Phila. Such sweet and touching love scenes, they're exquisite. Irish, Scottish, English and Cherokee nationalities all come together in strength and love. There's something to learn from everyone. A dream location to live too. 

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

#LovesWindingRoad #SusanFCraft #CelebrateLit #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #WildHeartBooks 



About the Book

Book: Love’s Winding Road

Author: Susan F. Craft

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 27, 2024

They were forced into this marriage of convenience, but there’s more at stake than their hearts on this wagon train through the mountain wilderness.

When Rose Jackson and her Irish immigrant family join a wagon train headed for a new life in South Carolina, the last thing she expects is to fall for the half-Cherokee wagon scout along the way. But their journey takes a life-changing turn when Rose is kidnapped by Indians. Daniel comes to her rescue, but the effects mean their lives will be forever intertwined.

Daniel prides himself on his self-control—inner and outer—but can’t seem to get a handle on either when Rose is near. Now his life is bound to hers when the consequences of her rescue force them to marry. Now it’s even more critical he maintain that self-control to keep her safe.

When tragedy strikes at the heart of their strained marriage, they leave for Daniel’s home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As they face the perils of the journey, Rose can’t help but wonder why her new husband guards his heart so strongly. Why does he resist his obvious attraction for her? And what life awaits them at the end of love’s winding road?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Susan F. Craft retired after a 45-year career in writing, editing, and communicating in business settings.

She authored the historical romantic suspense trilogy Women of the American Revolution—The Chamomile, Laurel, and Cassia. The Chamomile and Cassia received national Illumination Silver Awards. The Chamomile was named by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance as an Okra Pick and was nominated for a Christy Award.

She collaborated with the International Long Riders’ Guild Academic Foundation to compile An Equestrian Writer’s Guide (www.lrgaf.org), including almost everything you’d ever want to know about horses.

An admitted history nerd, she enjoys painting, singing, listening to music, and sitting on her porch watching geese eat her daylilies. She most recently took up the ukulele.

More from Susan

Colonial American medicine fascinates me. The shortage of doctors made it critical for women to maintain medicine kits that included remedies brought with them from Europe as well as those shared with them by Native Americans.

In Love’s Winding Road, my character Rose falls into river rapids and suffers serious scrapes and bruises. Daniel, the half-Cherokee scout of her wagon train, rescues her and makes witch hazel flowers into a paste.

With gentle movements, he spread the ointment on her arms, legs, and neck. When he dabbed some on several raw places on her scalp where her hair had been ripped out, Rose clenched her teeth until her face hurt. With her hand trembling, she reached up to touch her hair.

“Don’t worry. It will grow back. Just thank the good Lord, for though it may be distressing and painful to have lost some of your hair, the strands helped me keep track of you.”

Rose’s father suffers from arthritis in his hands, so he chews on the twigs of black willow trees (not weeping willows) and drinks the tea his wife prepares from the bark also used to treat back pain, headaches, and inflammatory conditions.

When a mountain lion attacks Daniel, Rose stitches the laceration. She cleans the area with whiskey and offers it to him as a painkiller.

She threaded her needle with her finest flax fiber, and holding her breath, she began the first tiny stitches. Think of it as cloth. Think of it as cloth. She repeated the words over and over in her head.

Sometimes doing research can be amusing.

The night before I was to see my doctor, I’d read a resource book, Indian Doctor – Nature’s method of curing and preventing disease according to the Indians. I showed my doctor the Indian cure for my problem.

What a hoot! We had such fun looking through the book. Seems as if every cure involved mixing something with wine, ale, beer, or liquor. We came to the conclusion that with enough alcohol, even if you still had the problem, you wouldn’t care anymore.

Two weeks later, I saw my doctor for an earache. Of course, we looked up the Indian cure. It involved lily onions, marsh mallows, oil of violet—all taken with wine. And then, bleeding.

I’ll stick with antibiotics.

I pray that my Great Wagon Road series honors the Lord and the gifts He has given me and that you will love my characters as much as I do. Soli Deo Gloria.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 3
Simple Harvest Reads, April 3 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
lakesidelivingsite, April 4
Pause for Tales, April 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 5
For Him and My Family, April 5
Lighthouse Academy Blog, April 6 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 7
The Lofty Pages, April 7
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 8
Bizwings Book Blog, April 9
Life on Chickadee Lane, April 9
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 10
Texas Book-aholic, April 11
Connie’s History Classroom , April 11
Cover Lover Book Review, April 12
Batya’s Bits, April 13
Holly’s Book Corner, April 13
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 14
Books You Can Feel Good About, April 15
Blossoms and Blessings, April 15
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 16 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, April 16

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2ac74/love-s-winding-road-celebration-tour-giveaway





My reviews

Monday, November 21, 2022

The Abide Bible

 


"Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path. Psalm 119:105"

Thomas Nelson, New English Translation. This bible is absolutely GORGEOUS! The leathersoft cover with the subtle design is quite elegant. The feel of it is also wonderful; it's supple. The pages are gold edged and there are two beautiful ribbons for marking your place and maps in the back. Overall, it is a very beautiful bible and would make a wonderful gift. 

The only objection I have is that there is a page near the front of the book called Explanatory Notes. Here they note differences in the text from different translations. Personally, I think they should be included as footnotes on the page with the text. The way it is, there is just a small mark that you have to pick up on as you read. You need to read the pages with the explanations and study them out. 

If you're a fan of "coaching", this bible is for you. It excels in that area. Each double-page has things to contemplate, journal, things to imagine or picture and praying scripture and includes beautiful engage-through-art sections. These are in the margin areas of every page throughout the book. It encourages engagement as you read.

I was given a sample bible by Thomas Nelson. I was not required to give a positive review. These thoughts are my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

#AbideBibleMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #Christian #Bible

From the publisher:

Check out The Abide Experience: 21 Days in John, a FREE Video Devotion featuring Dr. Phil Collins, general editor of the Abide Bible, a Bible designed around five methods of Scripture Engagement that will change the way you read Scripture. The 21 Days in John FREE Video Devotion also provides a free download of the book of John from the Abide Bible. 

Experience Abide - Thomas Nelson Bibles

The Abide Experience is FREE and includes 21 Video devotions delivered by email and a full download of the book of John from The Abide Bible! 
• Transform your personal Bible devotions into intimate, ongoing conversations with God with various Scripture engagement approaches that keep Bible reading fresh and new. “Abide in Me.” John 15:4
 
Do you yearn for life-giving, intimate communion with God? The Abide Bible is designed to help you experience the peace, hope, and growth that comes from encountering the voice and presence of God in Scripture. Every feature in Abide is designed to teach and develop Scripture-engagement habits that help you know the power and spiritual nourishment of abiding in Christ. 

Created in partnership with Bible Gateway and the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement, The Abide Bible’s features include articles, book introductions, and practical Scripture engagement prompts based on five ways of engaging deeply with the Bible:
     • Praying Scripture: Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the 
prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express. 
     • Picture It: Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in 
important events. 
     • Journaling: Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God’s voice as you ponder. 
     • Engage Through Art: Consider a classic piece of art—photograph, sculpture, 
painting—and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths. 
     • Contemplate: Follow the church’s longstanding practice of reading, meditating 
on, praying, and contemplating a passage of Scripture in order to experience 
God’s presence through the words of the Bible
.
Features include: 
• Bible book introductions provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read 
• 365 Day Bible Reading Plan guiding you through the entire Bible in a year 
• Line-matched, single-column Scripture text for improved readability 
• Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your desk 
• Two satin ribbon markers allow you to easily navigate and keep track of where you were reading 
• Easy-to-read 9-point NET Comfort Print

Giveaway: 1 copy of the Abide Bible (NET)
(Note: This is limited to US winners only. Winner chosen at random from comments below. If you're a winner, I will need your full name and email address by 12/2) 

My reviews:

Saturday, February 5, 2022

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel

 




1920 Galway Ireland. Lady Annabeth comes with her family from England, as new Landlords of Galway Manor. It's a time of Irish Revolutionary actions. Anna is bored with society things, has been given a year to decide whether to accept betrothal to the older man her father has set up for her. Her father is quite indulgent with her and arranges for her to apprentice at Claddagh Jeweller's shop. Their family had the ancestor who first designed the claddagh, handed down, with the legend, through the years. Steven has his own reasons to want the British out of their town.  Having his father agree for him to teach Anna went against him. As they spend time together, they each learn about the other and the many untruths on each side. As Anna interacts unselfishly with the townspeople, they get to know her and like her. Throughout the story you see the give and take, the acceptance of each other and beauty of the Irish way of life. A true love story encompassing the legend of the claddagh, and God's way for us. As the author says, all are created in the image of God, therefore, all are valuable and hold purpose. Many examples of Irish culture are illustrated within the story. People on both sides give of themselves for the other. Christian Historical Romance.
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. 
#TheLadyofGalwayManor #NetGalley

My Reviews
ChristianBook

Sunday, April 25, 2021

The Immigrant Brides Collection

 




One of the most diverse collections that I've read. English, German, Irish, Scottish, French, Chinese. All with things in their lives to overcome, strengthen their faith, and realize that the journey is better when shared. Discovering the right person to share their struggles and burdens with. Most with issues of unfair discrimination and fitting in. Excellent read. Never boring. Unusual twisting, realistic tales. 
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.
#TheImmigrantBridesRomanceCollection #NetGalley

My Reviews:
ChristianBook

Friday, June 7, 2019

Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40738384-shadow-among-sheaves?from_search=truehttps://www.amazon.com/Shadow-among-Sheaves-Naomi-Stephens/dp/1683229339/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1559955508&sr=8-1https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadow-among-sheaves-naomi-stephens/1129071653?ean=9781683229339#/https://www.christianbook.com/shadow-among-sheaves-naomi-stephens/9781683229339/pd/229339?event=ESRCGhttps://www.powells.com/book/-9781683229339

"Most days she found her own past too painful in its vastness."

England 1861. Intricate tale of a young Indian woman who married a British soldier, heir to a fortune. Similar to the biblical Ruth, when he and his father both died, she left India to follow her mother-in-law back to England. Neither realizing just how tough it would be. Severely rejected because of her race and nationality, both women were rejected and shunned by everyone and forced to live in a way neither had experienced before.

Lord Barric grudgingly felt compelled to help these women,  relatives by marriage. At first, he just allowed Rena to glean from his field. The story is excruciatingly painful to read at times, vividly brought to life by this talented author. Unfairness of discrimination, both of race and because they were women in the society of this day and age. And the customs of both countries. Through Rena, the beauty of the Indian people is unfolded. Although in India, the people didn't respect widows at that time; treated them harshly. In many parts of India, widows were beaten and shunned, cursed and spat upon, their clothes stripped away and ornaments ripped from their piercings so even their skin and flesh were broken. In the Indian state of Punjab, the term for widow was synonymous with the word for prostitute. But love has no racial boundaries.

“We are so much more than our reputation,” she finally managed to reply, her face warming. “Stories cheat; truth is found only in friendship.”

I was blessed to meet and work with people from India for a while, even more blessed to call these beautiful people friends. A time and friendship that I will always treasure. I didn't learn nearly enough about them and the land that they came from. The beauty and dignity of the main character in this story made me think of them.

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.”
#ShadowAmongSheaves #NetGalley #NaomiStephens  #BooksYouFeelGoodAbout
Read a preview of the book here.

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