Enchanting the Heiress by Kristi Ann Hunter

 

So nice to get back to these lovely people again! Quite the interesting mix of society and working people and blurring the lines between them. Harriet is a wealthy heiress who loves to involve herself in fixing other people's problems. She doesn't see it as meddling, but her strong personality combined with it influences people's perceptions. She is an important part of this mix of friends though. They live in a small town where horse racing is a big deal with a season of its own for the wealthy. Jonas works with the racehorses. He and his sister were also from a wealthy family, but had lost everything, yet bringing their knowledge of horses with them. Their intertwining lives are very interesting as they all get to settle into their lives and who they are. But Harriet has a secret, and her dilemma with dealing with it is intricate. As she tries to help Jonas uncover his artistic talents, they both become entangled. Their story is a frustrating and lovely one at the same time. Great read!

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. #EnchantingtheHeiress #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My reviews

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub

ChristianBook

Powells

Pinterest

Instagram

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

Excitement. Riveting. Drama. Christian Historical Fiction.
I read at night to get to sleep, and again when I wake up during the night for the same reason. This book didn't work so well for that. This edge of your seat, just can't put it down story is pretty intense. Sarah's miniscule detail of WW2 brings it like watching a movie. Maybe because this isn't the first she's written or because of Sarah's daily Facebook posts about the War, this one particularly came to life for me. 

The Paxton brothers are good looking, strong, and competitive. When tragedy happens, it shakes up all three of them, their whole family, with actions that will rip them apart and forever shape their futures. This is the story of Adler, the middle son and the center of it all.

Violet dedicated her life to become a missionary overseas like her aunt, but circumstances after she signed up for the red cross twisted in a way that took her away from that dream.

Both young people have a lot to learn about themselves. Both are grounded in strong Christian faith and have to learn to give it all over to God. Adler has to allow himself to be forgiven, by God and others, and to take a backseat to his determination in order to learn to lead. You can't go wrong with any of Sarah's books. This one is fabulous. I can't give it a higher recommendation!

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.”
#TheSkyAboveUs #SarahSundin #Netgalley

My Reviews:
Powells
Goodreads
Pinterest
Instagram
Twitter
BookFun
Amazon

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.
My reviews:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookClubNetwork
BooksAMillion
Twitter
Pinterest
LibraryThing
Shelfari 

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.

My reviews:
Goodreads
Book Club Network
Bookfun blog
Amazon
Twitter
Pinterest
GooglePlus
LibraryThing
Shelfari

Buttermilk Sky by Jan Watson

Five stars! Enter 1913 rural Kentucky and the lives of several poignant characters. Mazy lives in the mountains but, hopeful for a bright and exciting future, leaves there to go to Lexington and a school to become a secretary. Chanis is the sheriff in her hometown, and fell in love with her sometime back. He's even bought a house and is fixing it up for her as a surprise - right down to the lilac wallpaper that he tries to hang himself. Both from poor but loving families, have a strong Christian faith that is the foundation of their lives and continues to grow as they find their way. Each reach out to people around them, enrich their lives and are in turn helped by others as God works through them all.

Loyal, from a wealthy family, sees Mazy as the solution he and his mother have been searching for. As Mazy goes through trials and becomes swept up by both mother and son, she sees unfolding a life she would love to belong to. But is it really all that it seems?

You get to know and love all of the characters in this book. Luckily there are other books that go with this one so you don't have to leave them all behind. The story pulls at your heart for the rough times that people go through during this time, making do with what they have while trying to build a better way. Tough as it is, everyone has something to give. Their lives are enriched as much by giving as well as letting others help them. Humble gifts of themselves yet more than money could buy. And learning where your true priorities lie.

My reviews:
Goodreads
Amazon
Christianbooks
Bookfun
Deepershopping
BarnesandNoble

Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer

What a delightful book! This is the first I've read from Ms. Witemeyer. It's good to get to know another fabulous writer of Historical Christian Romance. I'm a fan!
I was caught up right from the beginning of the book. Learning about Darius and the fatal steamboat accident of 1849 quickly brings you deeply into the story. It was then a pleasure to get to know Nicole and her family. Brought together from entirely different agendas and both from highly successful shipping families, they had a lot in common, but it took quite some time for them to discover that about each other.  The author brings each and every character to life perfectly. The lessons and Christian values throughout the book wonderfully support the story. This is an incredibly interesting tale of some depth as well as a very satisfying romance.  And it's full of heart stopping danger. I read this book in 24 hours - I didn't want to put it down!  Now I'm hoping there will be a second book, and I'll be first in line to read it.
I received this book from Heidi Reads blog.

My reviews
Goodreads
Amazon
Christianbook
Barnes and Noble
DeeperShopping
Pinterest
Twitter
GooglePlus
Bookfun