Trust Me by Jo Huddleston

From the book's cover: West Virginia, 1960 A mine owner. An elegant lady. Seductive voices that scoff at trust.

Sweet Christian Historical Romance set in the early 1950's. It continues the story of Robby and Julie, who are now married. The story of Julie's father continues as well. Issues of trust are all through the book. Julie's father learns he can trust his managers to run his coal mines while he visits the College town.

Enriching story of Julie and Robbie graduating from college and getting jobs - while Robby goes on to graduate school. Robby was part of a large family of a coal miner and was able to get away and live a different life. He also brings his sister Adriana (after she graduates high school) to live with them in College town. Adriana is newly away from home at her first job and has to learn how to act and who to trust at work. This leads to serious lessons in what lack of love in family life can lead to. 

Julie's father spends more time with the Dean of Women from the college - who had a bad experience as a young girl and is having trouble trusting another man. Strong faith and learning to pray and trust God come into play all throughout the story. An excellent way to spend your time, and you feel good after you've read it!

I was graciously given a copy of this book by the Author and have written my honest opinion. I feel blessed to have been chosen to read and write a review.  Thank you Jo! Jo's blog.

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Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin

Step back in time with this thrilling Christian historical romance set in 1941! This new series starts off with a bang! The intrigue builds and builds, and so does the romantic tension. Be sure to set aside lots of time, especially when you get near the end, as you will NOT be able to put it down.

Both Jim and Mary have personal issues to deal with at a time of international upheaval right before we get into the war.  Mary is a secretary at the Boston Navy Yard, with a proficiency in shorthand. There is a lot of gossip and intrigue at the shipyard, especially after attempted sabotage on one of the newly built destroyers. Mary decides to take shorthand notes on what the workers are saying and other factual items to turn in to the FBI. She's afraid to step out though, as one of her biggest fears is drawing attention to herself.  Jim is a younger brother to two Naval officers who have distinguished themselves, but he has always been content to be a floater. He's on the new destroyer and discovers the sabotage attempt. Maybe this is the time when he should step out of his comfort zone and be more of a leader. Friends from childhood and trying to uncover this mystery together, both learn to grow in faith and confidence - with their surroundings and in love.

Quote from Sarah: "..this story reflects the extreme tension in the United States in 1941. The nation was divided, anger ran high on both sides, mob violence occurred, and fear and rumors ran rampant."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Author and 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.” 

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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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