The Flower Brides by Grace Livingston Hill

Timeless romance!

As a teenager, Grace Livingston Hill was one of my first favorite authors. I started collecting her books where ever I could find them. I remembered reading one of the books in this set, but not the other two, so reading this was like coming home to me.

I just love the grace of the characters in her books (no pun intended). There is always one character who has a strong Christian background, and usually their mothers are involved one way or another. Something that she felt very strongly about was the mode of dress and wayward way of life of the "modern" society, and those things are still very much true today. One thing is for sure, you will feel comforting love come through in each story. I highly recommend this book set for women of all ages, but especially for young adults.

From the publishers:

Beloved author Grace Livingston Hill has been delighting romance readers for generations. This collection of three full-length novels is sure to sweetly satisfy. In Marigold, the lovely Marigold Brooke travels to Washington, DC, where one man sweeps her off her feet, but another helps her see what real love—and faith—are all about. In Mystery Flowers, Diana Disston is heartbroken and comforted only by anonymous and mysterious gifts of flowers. In White Orchids, Camilla Chrystie is joined by a handsome stranger in a desperate effort to save her mother’s life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing - 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 “GuidesConcerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

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Justified by Varina Denman

 

Reviewed by Robin Willson

Radiant Lit Blog Tours

Genre : Contemporary Fiction           

Publisher: David C. Cook      

Release Date: June 1, 2015

In a small Texas town ruled by gossip, Fawn Blaylock believes others are justified in condemning her untimely pregnancy. Stifled by guilt, she yearns for grace while the local football coach treats her with gentle respect.

Well told. I've always liked learning what makes other people tick. Although you can pretty much guess how this story is going to go, it's getting to know the characters that matters. And as they are learning and growing in their faith, what their thought processes are and the conclusions it brings for them, and the stretching and changing that comes about. I think it's a great teaching/writing style that the characters sit and talk about their faith and share lessons they've learned. Even when one character pulls away from another it doesn't always weaken them - sometimes it brings about stronger faith and a stronger relationship to God and Christ than what they had before. And there just might be a twist in there that you won't expect.

God knows who He intends for us to end up with, and those whose lives we touch along the way. Fawn of course needs to forgive herself as she has been forgiven, but she also learns that she has more things in common with others in her family and the community than she thinks. Including people who have looked down on her after she became pregnant. 

I normally stick to Christian Historical Fiction, but am glad that I branched out and read this story. I highly recommend it!

Varina Denman is a native Texan who spent her high school years in a small Texas town. Now she lives near Fort Worth with her husband and her five mostly-grown children.

Note: I received this book as part of the Justified  blog tour from Radiant Lit.  I received no compensation for this review and only received a copy of the book for review purposes. Review copy provided by the publisher for Radiant Lit Blog Tours. 

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High Summer of Reading

I was glad to find Michell's High Summer Read-a-Thon going on this week.
a week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries
I've polished off two so far . . . how many do you have to read?

Wait For Me (The West Virginia Mountains Series Book 1) by Jo Huddleston

Christian Historical Romance set in the 1950's. This is best as a Young Adult selection. It covers issues like waiting until you're married for sex, dementia, parental disobedience,  poverty of miners in a mining town, and wealth of the mine owner and his family, bettering yourself with education, as well as basic Christian values.

This is a wonderful, sweet story of a young couple who are from the same town, but different social classes. Because of her mother's views, Julie, the daughter of the mine owner, is expected to attend school but not socialize or interact with the other children. Of course this rarely works. Told in first person, the tale is about Julie and how her life unfolds within this restricted life frame, then after she goes away to college. It's also about a young man from her town whom she loves, and revelations about her father and how he feels about the miners he employs. It's written in a format for younger readers.

Thank you to Cheri and Fred at The Book Club Network, the author Jo Huddleston and the publisher Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications, for the opportunity to read this book. I was given a free E-book in exchange for an honest review, which you found here.

I would definitely suggest this book to my family or friends who have young adult children.  I see it's the first in a series. I'd be interested to know how Robby and Julie do as time goes by! Great cover too.

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To Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino

In this Christian Historical Romance Rebecca DeMarino beautifully recreates life in 1653 on Long Island. There is a settlement from England living peacefully near the American Indian Montauk tribe, yet uncomfortable with the Dutch settlement nearby. You enter their homes and lives with detail of thought as well as surroundings. It's easy to see yourself there and become part of the characters' lives - some of whom are based on the author's actual ancestors. Her writing style reminds me somewhat of Lorraine Snelling in the Red River series. I have been researching my ancestry and some of my family came over during this time. I try to picture what it must have been like for them, and this helps.

This is the second book in the series. Although I wish I had read the previous book, there was enough fact provided to pick right up on the story. An Indian princess is captured at her wedding by another tribe and forced to watch as they murder her new husband, who was also a lifelong friend and companion. She is then taken into the woods in Connecticut and left to die even though her father paid the ransom.  A Dutch Lieutenant tracks and rescues her, and they come to care for one another on the way back to her family, even though the girl is in shock and mourning. She also has friends amongst the English, and two of them intercept their return home to escort her the rest of the way.

The return is difficult for her to come to terms with after the brutal murder of her husband, so she goes to stay with her Aunt who lives near the English settlement. The story is about the girl, Heather Flower, learning about God and regaining her life, being loved by two men whom she deeply cares about. She is at home with the English as well as her own native customs, but there is still a cultural separation between the people. You will feel torn with her as she struggles with her love for both men and learns to live again, finding out where she fits.  This was a page turner for me.  I eagerly waited to see what would happen next and it was filled with real life happenings in the settlement and other characters lives as well. I very much want to read the next story in the series (there's an excerpt included at the end of the book). Isn't that cover just gorgeous?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Revell/Baker Publishing Group - 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.”

Celebrate To Capture Her Heart with a Giveaway on Rebecca's blog!
Grand Prize: $75.00 Gift Card of choice (Amazon, Target, iTunes or Google play), Signed copy of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart.  
Runner Up Prize: $25.00 Gift card to Barnes & Noble, Signed copies of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart
Second Runner Up Prize: Signed copies of To Capture Her Heart & A Place in His Heart

#contest

To Capture Her Heart Book Launch

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A Bride at Last by Melissa Jagears

(Unexpected Brides Book #3) Christian Historical Romance set in Missouri 1885. Kate and Silas both grew up without parents in abusive, lonely backgrounds. Kate had been a mail-order bride once, and Silas had married one - each with less than perfect results - and neither is ready to act so quickly again. Anthony is Kate's student, but she has been supporting him and his mother for some time. As his mother dies, Kate is planning on taking Anthony in to raise, but his mother said that she notified the boy's father. The person Anthony's mother wrote to is Silas, not the man he had been calling Pa.

Silas was never aware that he had a son. However this other man had been using Anthony to support his gambling habit, so he's not ready to give up custody. Neither is Kate, and Silas becomes attached to Anthony even before having proof that he's his father.

In the meantime, fearing he'll be separated from Kate by either of the men, Anthony runs away. Silas has to get back to his ranch, but doesn't want to give up looking for the boy. As time goes by both Kate and Silas have to come to grips with mistakes they made in the past and in learning how to trust another person. Yet each is desperate for real love in their lives. There were several times I thought that the story would be wrapped up, but another twist appeared - and I was glad that it continued. I think it's wonderful that the author included an epilogue to tell what happened as time went on. I highly recommend this as an excellent read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - 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 inAdvertising.” 

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Among the Fair Magnolias, Four Southern Love Stories

by Tamera Alexander, Dorothy Love, Shelley Gray, Elizabeth Musser 

I don't normally go for short stories. Oh, I was already a fan of the authors, but  I love to invest myself in a nice big book, where I can settle in and really enjoy the characters. I've got to say I was quite surprised that I loved this book. After reading them I can say that they didn't feel at all like short stories. All are set in time shortly after the Civil War, and all are faithfilled Christian Romances. Each was richly told and I was hooked on the characters, romances and stories. Each and every one will pull on your heartstrings! There's enough depth in each novella to keep you entertained, with satisfying finishes. 

 

From the book publishers: "In the most turbulent decade of our nation's history, four Southern women—their destinies forged by birth and heritage—face near impossible choices on their journeys in life . . . and in love."

To Mend a Dream by Tamera Alexander
This is a continuation of one of the characters in To Win Her Favor (A Belle Meade Plantation Novel). Savannah has lost her family home, and she has an old letter that her father wrote indicating there is something he hid inside the house that could possibly restore her fortune. The house has been purchased by a Yankee who met a Southerner on the battlefield and convinced him to come to the area. He's having the house redecorated by his fiancée, and by happenstance Savannah is chosen to do the work. 

An Outlaw's Heart by Shelley Gray
A young man is forced to protect the honor of his girlfriend - from his abusive step-father. After he kills the man, he is rejected by both his mother and his girlfriend, so he runs away and eventually joins a band of outlaws. For various reasons, that comes to an end and he returns home to see his estranged mother, who as it turns out is very ill. She is being attended to by his former girlfriend, so he has the chance to see them both again before he leaves. This is a time for healing all around, and each character's life is enhanced by the other.

A Heart So True by Dorothy Love
Abigail and her family return to their summer home on Pawleys Island, SC. She is in love with a friend whom she quarreled with the last time she saw him, and she wonders if he will reconnect with her again. Her father expects her to marry Charles, the son of family friends - a young man with investment talents that he believes will enhance their family funds and aid in his quest for an elected seat in the new government after the war. Abigail hasn't told her father about Charles and his abusive behavior and doesn't know how to begin to make him understand. A story full of tension, heartache and testing of relationships in and out of the families involved. 

Love Beyond Limits by Elizabeth Musser
In this story a young girl grows up on her family's plantation, and as is typical is partly raised by a slave - who has a son. They are now freedmen, and Emily is in love with the woman's son - who is now a preacher and very politically active during this volatile time. Emily is expected to marry the son of a neighboring plantation, but they disagree on all their values - he is even seen riding with the KKK. You'll find heartache, murder, mystery and romance full of twists throughout.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson - 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 andTestimonials in Advertising.”.

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