The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund

1862
I was so glad to return to the Bride Ship Series. These girls enter your heart and you want only the best for them. You don't need to read the first book in the series before this, but you'll want to. In each, the characters search for God’s purposes and plans for them, and find strength in His courage. And they're thoroughly entertaining, keeping you engaged and holding your breath to the end. This story is about Arabella, a wealthy girl who had good reason to run away from her betrothed and go on a Bride Ship to seek a new opportunity on Vancouver Island, where men far outnumbered women. Pete was a baker there, with a love for the native population in the area. He battled the injustice of the English navy stationed there, controlling a smallpox outbreak by denying vaccinations to the natives and scattering them, wiping out much of their population. There are always people who see injustice and fight to expose it, but that doesn't mean it's easy. These people struggle to do what is right in God's eyes and persevere. 

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.
#TheRunawayBride #JodyHedlund

My Reviews:
Powells
Goodreads
BarnesAndNoble
Amazon
Pinterest
Twitter

Freedom's Light by Colleen Coble

Hannah thought she was safe moving to Massachusetts and marrying an older man. But when he dies, it's frowned upon for her, a woman, to be tending a lighthouse. Let alone two. Her own husband's family even disapproves of her. But she needs to support herself to keep her independence.

When Hannah's sister comes to help she thinks that her problems are solved, but more issues open up. When a handsome man washes to shore, she gets to know him but has suspicions about him.

Through the eyes and hearts of these characters you can see how people can sometimes do unthinkable things. It's a time of war, when our country was working for its freedom from England. But each person here was also looking for their own freedom. Well told story of a difficult time in our country's history.

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.”
#FreedomsLight #NetGalley #ColleenCoble #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Goodreads
Powells
BookFun
Amazon
ChristianBook

The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson

Depressing. Realistic with a small ray of hope.
Mostly an account of what it may have been like for a young boy who was separated from his mother in war torn England, and sent to Australia. It's hard for me to imagine what it must have been like since I was brought up by two parents in a loving home. A family that always had what we needed. I doubt that most of us feel that things were always rosie, but the kind of existence that these kids experienced was horrendous.

Australia felt that their population needed a white strengthening, and Britain had a long history of shipping people there. Most of these children were orphans, but not all were. They were told that they were being sent to farms where it was sunny, there were oranges to pick off trees as they wanted, they would have horses to ride, and they would become strong. None of it true. I don't understand though - if they really wanted to strengthen their population with these young people, why they mistreated them so and deprived them of food and education. Instead working them to death. Perhaps it was because of the hands they fell into.

This story tells of those sent to a monastery where the boys were mistreated and abused. Not a loving Christian environment. By including the story of the mother who was back in England, it helps show the injustice even further.

It took 43 years for the truth to be exposed about this tragic happening. It’s estimated that 150,000 children were sent to Australia in total, around 10,000 since 1947. The horrors of German prison camps combined with this horrific treatment of people truly illustrates a time when Satan had his way. Its amazing that there is still a human race at all. But at least people are moved by hearing stories like this about what happened.

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.”
#TheOceansBetweenUs #NetGalley

My Reviews:
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon
BookFun
Facebook