A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen

 

1813 North Cornwall, England

Laura was orphaned as a young girl, sent to live with her aunt, who also died. She was loved by her Uncle, but when he remarried she became unwanted. She had a habit of going down by the sea, looking for items that washed ashore from shipwrecks, which were common there. She was on shore when a shipwreck happened and witnessed a man washed up on shore, all other passengers lost. She protected him and had him brought to her neighbors house where she helped nurse him back to health. The story unfolds from there for both Laura and Alexander, their backgrounds and family stories interestingly told, and neither of them fit in. Danger twists in during this time of war between France and England. The wreckers are also interesting to learn about, adding to the mystery. Intriguing, holds your interest to the very end. Another get lost in story by Julie Klassen.  

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. #ACastawayInCornwall #JulieKlassen #5Stars #ChristianHistorical #Bethany

My Reviews

Goodreads

Powells

Amazon

ChristianBook

BarnesandNoble

Pinterest

BookBub

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

"Often, it's not one great, dramatic thing that God asks us to do but hundreds of little everyday things."

Christian Historical Fiction. 1897 and 52 years before. Geesje is an immigrant from the Netherlands. Her story is rich with love and heartbreak both there and here in America. Her family settled in Michigan, naming the new town Holland.

Anna has broken up with her fiancé and leaves home for a resort in Holland Michigan to recover. On her way she is nearly shipwrecked, bringing up old nightmares. She was adopted by the man who did actually rescue her from a shipwreck, but they never told her what happened. This is a fabulous journey of discovery for Anna. For most of us our lives don't follow a neat pattern, a straight line. The lives of these people are tattered, shredded and torn, mended and edges smoothed by faith. I highly recommend it! First book in a series. The second book continues this story and is also fabulous.

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.”
#WavesOfMercy #NetGalley #LynnAustin #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Goodreads
Powells
Amazon
BookFun
ChristianBook

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

Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin

Takes place in 1897 Holland, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. Anna is from a wealthy family, her parents adopted her after he saved her from a shipwreck where she lost her real mother. As told in the previous book, she learns who her biological grandmother is when she stays at a resort in Holland. The previous is a very involved book, recommended but not necessary to read this one. Anna also meets Dirk, quite by accident, yet has also recently reconciled with her wealthy fiancé, believing she must marry for money to save her adopted family. In this book Anna is trying to live in wealthy society and cope with marrying a man who does not share her newfound faith, while dealing with a jealous society girl. She's searching for information on her real mother now that she knows who she is, and trying to learn who her real father is. This information opens up a whole new set of problems.

It's also about Anna's real Grandmother Geesje, a Dutch immigrant, not of society. A young girl and her grandfather come to stay with her and her neighbor after moving from the Netherlands - a whole new story there that unfolds. Not everyone's lives are perfect and following a set line. This is about people who become endeared to you, lives who are battered and shredded, then mended and put right in faith as God can best do. Each person learning and becoming stronger by living through it. A lesson taught in no other way. Such a beautiful cover, don't you think?

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.”
#LegacyOfMercy #NetGalley #LynnAustin #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews:
Amazon
BookFun
Goodreads
Powells
ChristianBook

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”. 

My reviews:
Goodreads
GooglePlus
LibraryThing 
Shelfari
BookFun  
Pinterest 
Twitter
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)

A Stranger's Secret (Cliffs of Cornwall series Book 2) by Laurie Alice Eakes

One of the most suspenseful books I've read. It keeps you wondering from beginning to end.

A Christian Historical Romance set in 1813. I think it would have been helpful to have read the first book. You can read it as a stand alone, but I think it would have been a richer experience to have had the full background from the first book. Lady Morwenna Trelawny Penvenan is a widow wanting to hang onto her husband's impoverished estate for her son's inheritance. She won't accept help from her overbearing, wealthy Grandparents and tries to handle everything on her own. But her scandalous past and that of her husband holds her back.

David washes up on Morwenna's beach after wreckers lure the ship to unsafe waters along her shore. The wreckers are setting her up to make it look like she is doing it. But there was a reason he was on that ship. He was looking for answers about his father's death and the significance of the Trelawny medallion that his father had. The medallion that David had until Morwenna left him to get help.  They both are seeking answers from each other, and both keeping secrets.

There's lots of "romantic tension" throughout. There were some parts that seemed more like "formula" writing to me. Like the scene where Morwenna goes for a horse ride with others, only to turn back and fall off her horse. Unless I missed something, it seemed the only point was that her clothes were too tight, popped open and became too revealing when she fell.

Other than that, it was a very good read and grabs your attention from the first paragraph. There are good Christian lessons here and there throughout the book about pride, honoring parents and trust in others and in God.  The characters become endearing.  I would like to know what becomes of everyone as time goes on! Love the cover. Zondervan seems to have a lot of great books.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers  and BookLook Bloggers. 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”.

My reviews:
Goodreads
Amazon
BooksAMillion
BookFun
LibraryThing
Shelfari
Pinterest
Twitter
GooglePlus
ChristianBooks