Showing posts with label wealthy. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

The Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin

Haunting story. The fairy tale life of a provocative, immature woman who is now extremely wealthy, is not all that it seemed. She makes friends with the wife of the doctor her husband has brought in, who has a sad past of her own. Unlikely friends, they get to know one another and an intriguing story unfolds, keeping you turning the pages. It's hard to put down, taking you on some very emotional paths. A nice long read. Good lessons and examples of Christian faith. Actually a timeslip, years later a new couple encounters their houses and do research as to what happened to them all.

I received this book free from the author and NetGalley book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Christian, romance, women's fiction, unpredictable, scary, wonderful characters, tragic, haunting, inspirational, page-turner, orginal, easy-to-read, realistic

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Sunday, June 15, 2025

A Lesson in Propriety (Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies Book #1) by Jen Turano

A Gilded-Age Historical Rom-Com Set in Chicago

Delightful, you'll read and enjoy every single word. Very lovable, funny, flawed and brilliant characters in a tight and thoroughly enjoyable story. You'll find yourself laughing out loud and shaking your head...after a while you'll be talking to them!

Druscilla is from a family in the New York Four Hundred (read that with great poise and your nose in the air). Their fortunes change after her father dies and they are forced to go and live in the property that her Aunt left to her. It's located in Chicago in a wealthy area of new money people (people who have earned it). Rhenick and his family live next door. Ever a gentleman, he stops when it looks like she needs help.

After all, the property is like a castle, complete with ravens, a ghost and goats inside.

But she has made up her mind that she will never rely on a man again and will always handle things herself. She is independent and doesn't even chinch her corset in all the way.

Strength of character keeps them going and as they persevere, things begin to be uncovered and they all draw together to discover what's really been happening with the castle and what became of their Aunt, as well as track down the man who embezzled their fortune. Hilarious as always! Will not disappoint. A fabulous start to a new series - yay!

I received this book free from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ALessonInPropriety #NetGalley #JenTurano #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #BethanyHouse #ChristianHistoricalFicton #Romance

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Friday, May 9, 2025

A Steadfast Heart (Wind River Mail-Order Brides Book 2) Kindle Edition by Martha Hutchens

Kaitlyn, a mail order bride substitute who comes from a wealthy family, runs to Wyoming to escape her cruel brother. Drew had been burned by wealthy girls and didn't want to trust another. I was quickly pulled into the story and hung on every word. Intricate and very well written, with good faith lessons. Excellent read, satisfying ending.

I received this book free from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ASteadfastHeart #MarthaHutchens #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #SunrisePublishing #SpinnerOfYarnsLLC #ChristianHistoricalFiction

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Tuesday, April 15, 2025

The Indigo Heiress: (A Marriage of Convenience Historical Romance Novel Set in 1700s Colonial America and Scotland)

Enthralling. Become completely immersed and admire Juliet. Set in 1774 she's from a prominent tobacco plantation family but is also involved with the business and understands it's workings and how to run it. It's a shock when on short notice her father orders her to marry a merchant from Scotland. With this wordsmith, it's lovely being engulfed in their lives and lifestyles on each continent, where so much is soon uncovered and with a backdrop of the war in America. This one's a keeper - you'll treasure every moment reading it.

I received this book free from the author and NetGalley bloggers review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheIndigoHeiress #NetGalley #LauraFrantz #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #Revell #ChristianHistoricalFiction @LauraFrantz @NetGalley

Description

Virginia plantation life is all she has ever known.

But could the life she was meant to live be waiting on a distant shore?

In 1774, Juliet Catesby lives with her father and sister at Royal Vale, the James River plantation founded by her Virginia family over a century before. Indigo cultivation is her foremost concern, though its export tethers her family to the powerful Buchanan clan of Glasgow, Scotland.

When the heir of the Buchanan firm arrives on their shores, Juliet discovers that her father has arranged for one of his daughters to marry the Scot as a means of canceling the family's crippling debt. Confident it will be her younger, lovelier sister, Juliet is appalled when Leith Buchanan selects her instead.

Despite her initial refusal, Juliet realizes that fleeing Virginia is her only choice after finding herself in the midst of a scandal. The ship just leaving the harbor for Glasgow is her only hope. But she will soon realize that being part of the complex and calculating Buchanan clan is not the sanctuary she imagined--and the man who saved her from ruin is the very one she must now save in return.

About the author

Bestselling, award-winning author, Laura Frantz, has been writing stories since age seven. She is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century and her novels often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. Though she will always consider Kentucky home, she and her husband live in Washington State.

According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Foreign language editions include French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovakian, German & Polish.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at www.laurafrantz.net

*Subscribe to Laura's seasonal newsletter and receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and reader events, sneak peaks and teasers, signings and appearances, and more! To subscribe, click here or copy and paste this into your browser's address window:

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Saturday, December 23, 2023

The Grand Design A Novel of Dorothy Draper by Joy Callaway

Loosely autobiographical story of Dororthy Draper and the Greenbriar Resort starting in the early 1900s. She stayed there as a young girl, and later, as a decorator redesigned it and brought it back after it had been used during the war as a hospital and internment for political prisoners. Being a decorator back then was not typical for a woman. Dorothy was a wealthy heiress: a woman having a profession wasn't done. The story is a love story for Dorothy and for the resort as a special place. Royalty, actors, actresses, political greats and the wealthy all enjoyed staying there, with all of their secrets.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheGrandDesign #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HarperMuse #HistoricalFiction #JoyCallaway

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Thursday, March 23, 2023

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester

Quite the book - with a lot of depth. Other than marketing, Alix is so much different than I am that I was truly an observer, watching her work her magic and get results. She is an orphan raised by a wealthy family, like a sister to Lillie. She later becomes a writer for a fashion magazine, in WW2 is recruited to be a spy and goes to Switzerland. It's very interesting to read how things went in her spy world, many based on real facts from the author's research. After the war in Paris, she goes to work for Christian Dior as he comes into the spotlight. A fascinating world. And meets Anthony as she is trying to find a Nazi war criminal who had set her up in her earlier life. She's looking for answers and revenge for the people who were killed after a message she had relayed during the war. She's strong and quite courageous as well as vulnerable. Hard to put down, easy to get fully immersed. Very, very well written. A small amount of bad language throughout that was irritating and I could have done without.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#NetGalley #TheThreeLivesOfAlixStPierre #NatashaLester #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #HistoricalFiction #FiveStarNovel #GrandCentralPublishing

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Thursday, February 9, 2023

The Confession Musical

Wonderfully done! Excellent acting. Musical numbers are very good, some are especially touching and so beautiful. I think the story almost has more meaning and depth with the musical numbers.

Even though I'd read the book some time ago and I knew how it was going to go, I laughed and cried and sighed. This stage play really brought out the story and has been updated to this generation.

It's a Christian story about love and adoption, devotion to one another through everything. Did I mention Katie's fiancé who was believed to have drowned? The Mothers song with Katie joining in made me sob. So much beauty. There are wonderful messages about salvation and forgiveness embedded. And the comedy is great. Chonda somewhat stole the show at times, excellently.

Even though it puts you through the wringer emotionally, it makes you feel better for having watched it.

Many thanks to Blue Gate Musicals for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

#TheConfessionMIN and #ConfessionMusicalMovie #ChristianFiction #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #FiveStarMovie #ChondaPierce #JohnSchneider

"The Confession Musical” is in theaters for one night only on February 20th!

The Confession Musical” is based on the New York Times best-selling book series “The Heritage of Lancaster County,” written by Beverly Lewis and written for the stage by Emmy-Nominated screenwriter Martha Bolton.

Katie Lapp, a young Amish girl, discovers her parents have been keeping a secret from her… she is adopted. Katie decides to seek her birth mother, defying the rules of her Amish village and risking a shunning. Meanwhile, her wealthy birth mother, Laura Mayfield, battling an illness that might take her life, begins searching for her long-lost daughter to bequeath her inheritance before it is too late. Secretly plotting against her is the gold-digging husband Dylan (played by John Schneider), who is scheming to make sure he inherits her fortune. With the help and prayers of her Christian maidservant (played by Chonda Pierce), they try to foil Dylan’s plan and reunite Katie and Laura. And then there's Katie's lost fiancé and the mystery around him.

• Blog Post from Beverly Lewis: LINK

• Buy tickets today to see THE CONFESSION musical movie exclusively in theaters February 20th!

Movie Website: https://confessionmusicalmovie.com/

Buy Tickets Link: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/The-Confession-Musical

Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card

(Note: This is limited to US winners only. Winner chosen randomly from comments to this post by 2/22/23. I will need the winner’s full name and email address.) (There will be no spam!)

Thursday, January 12, 2023

The Confession Musical Movie

Based on the book by Beverly Lewis - ONLY IN MOVIE THEATERS FEBRUARY 20, 2023

I read the book - it was very good. With this team of actors it looks like it was really well done.

THE CONFESSION MUSICAL was adapted for the stage by Emmy-Nominated screenwriter Martha Bolton. The musical follows the story of Katie Lapp, a young Amish girl who discovers that her parents have been keeping a deep secret...that she is adopted. Katie decides to find her birth mother, defying the rules of her Amish village and risking a shunning. Meanwhile, Laura Mayfield, her wealthy birth mother who is battling an illness that might take her life, began searching for her long-lost daughter. Secretly plotting against Laura is her gold-digging husband Dylan (John Schneider). Dylan knows that if Katie is found, he will no longer inherit Laura’s fortune. With the help and prayers of her Christian housekeeper (Chonda Pierce), Laura hopes to foil Dylan’s plan and be reunited with her daughter.

While the story is dramatic, writer Martha Bolton sprinkles in humor, mostly from award-winning comedian Chonda Pierce as the maid and internationally renowned British comedian Colin Hearn as the English Butler. The music is powerful under the direction of multiple Grammy nominated Dan Posthuma and songwriter Wally Nason. The screen is filled with spectacular visuals using twenty actors and dancers and one of the largest LED screens in the country.

#TheConfessionMIN #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianFiction #AmishFiction

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Monday, April 18, 2022

Every Word Unsaid by Kimberly Duffy

Beauty from ashes. 1870. Gussie is from a privileged family. Her family is rough on her because she doesn't want to conform to what they want. They call her worthless. She only has 2 friends, who had moved away when they were kids. So, she runs away on adventures. She has a Kodak camera, and a job with a magazine where she is successful, but she's writing secretly. Her Uncle, who loves her, was a former Pinkerton and tracks her down each time and brings her back. Women didn't travel alone at that time, and their reputations were fragile. Things get worse with her family, so she's glad her boss sends her to India where she finds her two childhood friends and, gradually, herself. She learns that even though she is from a privileged background, she has something in common with a new friend in India, a widow who has been badly abused. Not the same physical things, but mentally. Her personal growth expands as things happen wherever she goes. Deeply told, with wonderful characters you can plainly see and feel their thoughts and feelings. This is a time and place of plague and horrible treatment of the people in India. Gussie's trials deepen, reforming her life. Excellent read, wish the story continued longer.

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.

#EveryWordUnsaid #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #fivestarbooks

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Thursday, April 14, 2022

The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan

A spy story set in Austria and Prague after WW2 was over. There were struggling factions fighting over who would take over the cities. It was also a time when the treasures that had been taken from Jews during the occupation were being sought by rightful owners and thieves alike. For Sophie, centered in music and artifacts and Simon, centered in chess, they each were hiding secrets about the work they were doing, just as they had during the war. They were both from wealthy, manipulating families. Mostly a dark tale with murder, mystery, secrets and constant danger for them all. Quite intricate the way the twists come together; makes you want to know how their lives will turn out.

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.

#TheMozartCode #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #WW2Fiction #fivestarbooks

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Saturday, October 9, 2021

A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse

Set in the early 1900s. Emma Grace is the daughter of an extremely wealthy man, whose ambition for more money took him over. When she was still 17 she ran away from him and being his pawn. She became a Harvey girl, strove to be her best, and was able to transfer to the new restaurant at the Grand Canyon. She was tired of disguises and hiding, hoping she had run far enough away for them to find her. She had learned that her father had been murdered after she left, and she was afraid.

Ray was the son of another extremely wealthy man who was obsessed with getting more. He wasn't like his father, and little by little Emma Grace began to see him as he really was, a man of God and faith, who wanted to help others, and not like other men of their social status.
Kimberly Woodhouse is so good at creating fully real, lovable characters with great depth. Excellent story that I didn't want to put down. Beautiful Christian lessons that give a strong foundation throughout. Interesting information about the Grand Canyon and Hopi Indians from the area. Looking forward to the next in the series!
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.
#ADeepDivide #NetGalley

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Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden

Thoroughly engaging characters. You'll be completely invested in them, right to the end. Another beautiful blend of the supremely wealthy and the working poor. Attempted murder, kidnapping of a child. Saving a college from being defunded. A botany major and a lawyer who is devoted to the downtrodden Irish. Each has a truly good heart, and each is hurt in their own way. They both have to struggle with trust, in others and in God. Excellent 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.
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