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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The Seamstress by Allison Pittman

Wow what a powerful story. A step into history. 

It's set in France 1788 just before, then during the French revolution. There is a place not far from where I live that was constructed with the hope that Marie Antoinette would find asylum there, but sadly she never made it. Going there, seeing how it was made ready for her, I wished I could have made or helped to make some of the things for her. In particular I remember a quilt made from velvet pieces with beautiful embroidery around each piece. My grandmother made one similar and the women in our family all stitched on it. It enhances my feeling about Marie, the war and a seamstress she might have had.

Renee is a poor girl taken in as an orphan with her cousin by a man, not that much older than them, who runs a farm that's been in his family for generations. They don't have much but she delights in small things and loves her new family, growing in a Christian way. They have a friend who believes in eliminating the royalty from France. Near their house a carriage overturns and Renee mends the gown of a woman who was within. The mending is quite clever and fashionable. The woman is close to the queen, and decides to take Renee with her.

Renee, though quite young, finds a new life at the palace, and her skills make her a favorite. I delight in reading about the fabrics and thread as the story describes how she uses them. And in the beauty of the palace. The author skillfully tells several sides of the struggle at this time and I found it very difficult to put down. It's hard not to feel strongly for the characters, and its not a very happy time overall for any of them. I like the depiction of Marie Antoinette as a good person who tried to help the poor. A get-lost-in-it book for me. Huge depths of emotion.

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.”
#TheSeamstress #AllisonPittman #NetGalley #ChristianHistoricalFiction

Quotes from the book:
"The rain hits steadily, like whispers, and my ear strains to the occasional heavy droplet. To think, being in such a small space, every drop of it is splashing only inches above our heads."

"The people are their own god now. Their desires, law."

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The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

Excitement. Riveting. Drama. Christian Historical Fiction.
I read at night to get to sleep, and again when I wake up during the night for the same reason. This book didn't work so well for that. This edge of your seat, just can't put it down story is pretty intense. Sarah's miniscule detail of WW2 brings it like watching a movie. Maybe because this isn't the first she's written or because of Sarah's daily Facebook posts about the War, this one particularly came to life for me. 

The Paxton brothers are good looking, strong, and competitive. When tragedy happens, it shakes up all three of them, their whole family, with actions that will rip them apart and forever shape their futures. This is the story of Adler, the middle son and the center of it all.

Violet dedicated her life to become a missionary overseas like her aunt, but circumstances after she signed up for the red cross twisted in a way that took her away from that dream.

Both young people have a lot to learn about themselves. Both are grounded in strong Christian faith and have to learn to give it all over to God. Adler has to allow himself to be forgiven, by God and others, and to take a backseat to his determination in order to learn to lead. You can't go wrong with any of Sarah's books. This one is fabulous. I can't give it a higher recommendation!

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.”
#TheSkyAboveUs #SarahSundin #Netgalley

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A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden

 

This goes in the Love it! category.
In 1896 it was decided that New York City needed a bigger water supply,  so a reservoir was planned. Where they put it displaced 7 towns. They had to move - their towns were destroyed, leveled, with either a buy-out or eminent domain. This us a fictional compilation of what one of those towns might have gone through. A very close-knit town, one where everybody knew everybody else's business. And they never forgot. But they took care of one another too.

Eloise is from a wealthy family whose home overlooks this small town. She is from a very dysfunctional family and longs for a normal life like those who live in town. She gets to know Alex, a little too well for her guardian, and because of this they're both forced to leave the area and each other. Alex comes back first and eventually becomes Mayor. He's a bit of a dreamer. Eloise becomes an Accountant/CPA for the State and has to be involved with the takeover of the town as the reservoir is being planned. She's even more straight laced than ever, so the attraction that is still there with Alex is contrasted with their different personalities and being on opposite sides where the reservoir is concerned. It's all pretty much a hot mess for all the people involved, but there are lessons of faith and of getting along throughout. You'll be fully drawn into the characters' hearts, minds and struggles. I loved this book and highly recommend it. It's a really deep story with interesting twists and turns, some you'd never begin to guess. Be prepared, especially towards the end, to not be able to put it down. Plan for the time!

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.”

#AdesperateHope #NetGalley

Quote:
Someday people would probably even take this reservoir for granted and never realize the sacrifices made by thousands of people to make this engineering miracle possible.

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Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano

Oh to see this on the silver screen! Movies today aren't what they used to be, so this would be an excellent comeback. A full, rich story about poised Isadora, a society girl who ran away to be a housekeeper when her life was put in danger. Since it was the most unexpected thing for her to do, she should have been safe. But then she was expecting a Manor to run, not a farm, and of course she didn't really seem at first to fit in. I love the tomboy skills she has that are allowed to shine. Ian is a social climber looking to increase his fortune after being raised at Glory Manor. He was not expecting quite the disruptions that kept him in the country running the farm and out of the city where his best connections would be. In typical Jen Turano style, it's filled to the top with hilarious, rolling misevents and tender loving moments. Deeply satisfying to the end, which you won't want to happen. Don't you just love the cover? Honestly I think they need to allow 10 stars for some books.
I've said it before: Cheer up! Read a Jen Turano book!

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.”

#FlightsOfFancy #NetGalley

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