The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw

 

1874 to 1922 Ireland and England. The true story of a very strong lady who pursued her passion for animals and became a veterinary surgeon. She had to fight men and her own family to do so. I understand her position as I was also brought up around boys and could never understand why things were different for me than for them. I could do everything they could, sometimes better, they got to have all the fun. 

Aleen was from an Aristocratic family during a time when women's lives were so much more restricted and rigid, making her situation harder to want to care for animals, especially horses and dogs. She lived an interesting life, was very lonely and treated unfairly. Through it all she still loved her family and tried to reach out to them over all the years and keep in touch, after they disowned her. She had a guardian and his family to support and guide her, through college and eventually back to Ireland. It's a good long read that I had a hard time putting down and thought about often throughout my day. Inspirational. Excellent writing brought her to life.

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.

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A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund

Deeply satisfying. This girl knows how to write a story, and how to end it, with a promise for more, and you can't wait. Based on historical facts. Mercy was from the poorest of the poor, living in the slums of London. But she had been raised with love and caring, mostly by her sister - who was in a Workhouse and near to death. She made Mercy promise to go on a ship to British Columbia for a new start. A ray of hope for the hopeless. Reluctantly, Mercy went, not realizing that it was a Bride Ship. She accepted the role that she had lived as due her station, felt she was the bottom of the bottom of society. She reached out to help all around her in any way that she could, primarily nursing the sick. She became deeply attached to each in her care, showing kindness and love. Joseph is a member of Society, but chose to be a ship's surgeon. He learns a lot about himself and how he and his peers treat the poor. Mercy proves to be a perfect nurse, and they spend time together as they travel. Each learns they have prejudices, and work through the assumptions of those who surround them on the ship. The author must have done a lot of research to know what it was like to live in a ship at that time, because you can easily picture everything. A story where you become attached to the characters - need a two five-star rating to give it justice. Eagerly awaiting the next in the series!

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.”
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With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

Deeply moving.

It's November 30, 1864, Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. Lizzie is the Governess to two children there. They look out and see an army forming between their house and the neighbors. The southern army here, federal army drenched in there. Around 20,000 men. The battle was fought over 2 1/2 miles, with nearly 10,000 killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Read that last sentence again. Can you really imagine it?

Their house quickly fills up with wounded. They tear up all the cloth they have - clothes, bed linens, towels, even underwear and Lizzies wedding dress, for bandages. She has skills learned from her father who is a pharmacist, and is able to help the surgeon. She learns that her fiancé is somewhere on the battlefield and goes to look for him - getting an even bigger shock of her life. The hem of her dress is soaked 6 inches with the blood. (Yet just a fraction of what Armageddon will be.) It literally came to their doorstep. Even the children join in helping the wounded in the house. The depth of sorrow and pain, and the eventual joy and love of the living.

Roland was one of the soldiers who had been battered, both legs and much of a hand. He and Lizzie have a special bond that grows through the story, as they both learn how to live with all the changes to their world, their lives. Since they lost the battle there, all of the soldiers on the losing side are supposed to go to Federal prison. They are given permission to stay until better healed, in the care of the McGavocks and local Catholic Sisters. Their mending is difficult, and gives them all a chance to know each other better. Relationships are forged between them all, including two black slaves. An incredible story telling from different angles of those involved. Well done, illustrating an incredible number of people.

#WithThisPledge #TameraAlexander #NetGalley #ChristianHistoricalFiction

Quotes
"Odd how war had a way of leveling out life. Of making what once seemed so important— such as propriety and decorum in conversation—not quite so significant. And in turn, it made what truly mattered— people, taking care of one another, life—of utmost urgency."

“For those who are in Christ Jesus, the best is always yet to come. Believe that.” 

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