A Summer At Thousand Island House

Sweet summer romance - a quick read. Addie is hired at a resort hotel in the Thousand Islands. Since she had previously been a teacher, she brought those skills to what was kind of a nanny position. Liam is her boss but becomes captivated by her in her new adventures there. Faith filled. Includes interesting lessons about various history in the area. 

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.

#ASummerAtThousandIslandHouse #SusanGMathis #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #FiveStarNovel #CelebrateLit #ChristianHistoricalRomance

About the Book

Book: A Summer at Thousand Island House

Author: Susan G. Mathis

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 25, 2023

She came to work with the children, not fall in love.

Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to use her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple’s Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion’s manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy.

But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community? 

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About the Author

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has eleven in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Peyton’s Promise, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment and A Summer at Thousand Island House. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, two Indie Excellence Book Awards, and four Literary Titan Book Awards. Reagan’s Reward is a Selah Awards finalist. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more. 

More from Susan

Behind the scenes at A Summer at Thousand Island House

I’ve been writing about the Gilded Age for several years now. A Summer at Thousand Island House is my eleventh published story, and I had so much fun creating it. The American Gilded Age was a time of rapid technical advances, industrialization, and thousands of new inventions from about 1870-1910. Mark Twain coined the term in his 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today that satirized the era of social problems that were masked by a layer of thin, gold gilding.

It’s a fascinating time in history, especially in the Thousand Islands. I grew up just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands in upstate New York. Actually, half of the 1,864 islands are in NY and the other half in Ontario, Canada. All of my books are set during the Thousand Islands Gilded Age, when the wealthy came and scooped up the islands and built lavish summer homes, mansions, and castles. 

It was an era of economic growth and wages were higher than Europe, so massive immigration drew about twenty million to the U.S. shores. Unfortunately, it was also a time of unequal distribution of wealth where the rich got richer and the poor working class suffered. 

Many young women worked as servants until they married, and that’s what my stories are about—those nameless, faithful women who cooked and cleaned and served tables for the rich and famous. These “downstairs” women had fascinating stories to tell, and I plan to tell many of them. 

All my novels are based on a specific place in the Thousand Islands and are the true stories of the owners of that island. So, my plot is generally true. There really was an entertainment pavilion on Staple’s Island where the patrons of Thousand Island House enjoyed all kinds of amenities, including a daycare. And US Presidents, including President Grant and President Chester Arthur (whom you meet), vacationed at Thousand Island House. 

Then I overlay the storyline of the fictional servants to create the story. This makes my stories a bit more challenging, but I love a good challenge. Addison Bell cares for children. Liam Donovan manages the pavilion and Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector and single father, comes and goes. 

And all of my Thousand Islands’ stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. A Summer at Thousand Island House also focuses on healing broken hearts and embracing God’s redemption. 

Mathis’s attention to detail and rich history is classic Mathis, and no one does it better.—Margaret Brownley, N.Y. Times bestselling author

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 18
Alena Mentink, July 18
Karen Baney Reviews, July 19
Books You Can Feel Good About, July 19
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 20
She Lives To Read, July 20
Texas Book-aholic, July 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 22
Connie’s History Classroom, July 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 23
Book Looks by Lisa, July 24
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, July 25
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, July 26 (Author Interview)
Back Porch Reads, July 26
The Book Club Network, July 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 28
Holly’s Book Corner, July 28
Cover Lover Book Review, July 29
Blossoms and Blessings, July 30
Blogging With Carol, July 31
Pause for Tales, July 31
For Him and My Family, August 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize package 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/26b9c/a-summer-at-thousand-island-house-celebration-tour-giveaway

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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

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Love's Every Whisper by Naomi Rawlings (Eagle Harbor Book 2)

Christian Historical Romance. I didn't read the first book in the series before reading this. It might have been helpful for insight into some of the characters, but I don't think it was necessary to have read it to enjoy this book. I found it quite interesting to read about this great-lakefront town Eagle Harbor and its residents. There have always been great storms on the great lakes, but not always someone dedicated to go out and rescue storm-wrecked passengers. There have been lighthouses - and before electricity it was a huge job to keep that light lit. 

Elijah lost his father in a shipwreck, but he wasn't there at the time to try to save him. It affected him strongly though, so he's vowed to help save as many as he can - even without the resources that he is applying for to increase their safety. His best friend Mac (like a brother) is in charge of the lighthouse, but sometimes has to go out on the rescue team.

In the lead story in this book Mac left his wife in charge of the lighthouse light, but she is pregnant and became ill, so the light went out. As a result, another boat was lost with some extra valuable items on board - owned by the wealthiest people in the area. And of course Elijah and Mac are blamed for the loss. One of these owners, Gilbert, has been a long-time enemy and sparring partner of Elijah's. The other is the father of Victoria, the woman Elijah loves. Victoria is a smart and sensitive woman, but feels she's a failure, doesn't feel attractive, and she has a stutter. Her family is a large part of the reason she feels this way - but she will learn that they aren't as wonderful as they think they are. The only one she's ever been comfortable enough around to not stutter is Elijah. But she is expected to marry Gilbert - who is of her class - and it is a great coup for her father's business.

Each character has their own obstacles to overcome, and love triumphs over all! 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. 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 inAdvertising”. 

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From the book jacket:
Victoria Donnelly is, as always, a failure. With five years of failed courtships behind her and the calendar inching closer to another birthday, Victoria's determined to redeem herself and snag a proposal from a wealthy childhood acquaintance, Gilbert Sinclair. But returning to Eagle Harbor stirs up long forgotten memories. And worse, old affection for her betrothed's enemy. Elijah Cummings has loved Victoria for fifteen years. But fishermen's sons don't marry shipping barons' daughters. He knows it. She knows it. The entire town knows it. Resolved to keep his distance from Victoria, Elijah focuses on establishing a much needed life-saving station, risking his own life by rescuing sailors stuck aboard shipwrecks. He knows how to save drowning sailors, but how is he to save a woman from the biggest mistake of her life—without destroying both their hearts in the process? Eagle Harbor Series--Where Love Finds Its Anchor Book 1: Love's Unfading Light (Mac and Tressa) Book 2: Love's Every Whisper (Elijah and Victoria) Short Story: Love's Beginning (Elijah and Victoria) Book 3: Love's Sure Dawn (Gilbert and Rebekah)

Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund

Faith, forgiveness and romance in 1859 Michigan.

After reading the novella that came before, I was eager to read this next book in the series and was engulfed/immersed within the first couple of chapters. I love historical fiction and it's interesting to learn new things as you read. I didn't realize that there were pirates on the Great Lakes. And I never thought of how hard it would be to keep a lighthouse beam going all night, every night. Or that there would be people who didn't want it to shine - for their own gain.

Patrick has an ugly past and has come to the lighthouse on Presque Isle. He doesn't mind the lifestyle. He was saved and is befriended by Holy Bill, who helped to find this job. Grateful for a new chance, Patrick came there with his wife and toddler, and his wife has just died.

Emma and her brother are on a steamship that has been attacked by pirates. Maybe they should have stayed on Mackinac. But this was a chance for both of them for a new life.  It had been a struggle since coming over from Ireland. Their mother died of starvation, and their father didn't cope well. Forced to jump into the lake and hang onto a barrel, Emma and Ryan are rescued by Patrick and taken to shore.  They both look for work in an area where jobs are scarce.

Patrick buries his wife and is in desperate need of someone to look after his boy.  In fact little Josiah runs up to Emma who had been watching the funeral. Holy Bill has been praying for Patrick and a better life for him. He encourages Emma and Patrick to be married that day so that she can take care of the boy and Patrick both.  Emma had thought herself unattractive and that she'd never find a husband. She is grateful for a way to take care of herself and also have a real home and family - as well as stop being a burden to her brother.  

There is a lot of romantic tension as Emma and Patrick get to know one another and begin a new life where they both may finally have a chance at happiness. There's a lot to tell about their past, but when is it ever a good time?  In Patrick's case, will that telling make them lose the ground that they have gained? And then there are rumors about how his wife died, spread by his wife's cousin - who befriends Emma.

This is an excellent story and the characters are fully dimensional.  I enjoyed getting to know them and see how their lives would play out. I was sorry to give this only four stars. As much as I loved the story, I did feel that it went on a little too long. I started to lose interest about 2/3 of the way through but read it to the end and and was glad to see how it wrapped up.  I really loved the cover on this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher 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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