The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy

Christian Historical Fiction. 1868 Dismal, Nevada. The old Wild, Wild West. This story is built with people from previous books and an underlying evil that needs to be solved. A Pinkerton Agent comes into the mix when one of the evil doers is shot. With a few pages turned you can easily get into the full story and keep straight who everyone is. Mary Connealy is one of those very gifted storytellers. It's easy to become fully engaged in the story and you won't even notice as time rushes by. The chemistry between the characters is deeply woven with pictures of old Nevada, including Lake Tahoe. Richly developed people who are painted with life stories.

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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The White City by Grace Hitchcock

Chicago 1893. Christian Historical Romance. Winnie is a young girl of society who has lost her mother and was raised by her father, an Inspector on the police force. She also reads a lot of romance novels. The World Fair is taking place in the city, bringing crime with it. She is at the fair and sees a young woman being abducted. Although no one really believes her,  her detective skills kick in and her father is forced to assign a detective from the force to watch over her. Very well written, a pleasant read that is a page turner as it goes on. Good suspense that isn't totally predictable. Entertaining and satisfying story.

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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Escape to Everly Manor by Chalon Linton

Regency romance (clean). I was fully engaged within the first chapter. And I swear that I held my breath through the whole book.

When both of her parents die, Lizzie is left with her half brother. Their Uncle shows up, an evil man, and takes everything away from them. He arranged for her 9 year old brother to go to sea to work on a ship and allows a suitor that she and her father had rejected, another evil man, to become engaged to her. This is a page turner. And it doesn't end too soon! So many stories go through a set process only to wrap up and end within three pages. This does not. Satisfying romance that keeps you glued to the book until the end. Exquisitely written. Fabulous escape.

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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The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson

Depressing. Realistic with a small ray of hope.
Mostly an account of what it may have been like for a young boy who was separated from his mother in war torn England, and sent to Australia. It's hard for me to imagine what it must have been like since I was brought up by two parents in a loving home. A family that always had what we needed. I doubt that most of us feel that things were always rosie, but the kind of existence that these kids experienced was horrendous.

Australia felt that their population needed a white strengthening, and Britain had a long history of shipping people there. Most of these children were orphans, but not all were. They were told that they were being sent to farms where it was sunny, there were oranges to pick off trees as they wanted, they would have horses to ride, and they would become strong. None of it true. I don't understand though - if they really wanted to strengthen their population with these young people, why they mistreated them so and deprived them of food and education. Instead working them to death. Perhaps it was because of the hands they fell into.

This story tells of those sent to a monastery where the boys were mistreated and abused. Not a loving Christian environment. By including the story of the mother who was back in England, it helps show the injustice even further.

It took 43 years for the truth to be exposed about this tragic happening. It’s estimated that 150,000 children were sent to Australia in total, around 10,000 since 1947. The horrors of German prison camps combined with this horrific treatment of people truly illustrates a time when Satan had his way. Its amazing that there is still a human race at all. But at least people are moved by hearing stories like this about what happened.

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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Half Finished by Lauraine Snelling

To quote her Norwegian grandmother, “Don’t that put the sizzle in the meat!”


Something new and different from Lauraine Snelling! Modern, upbeat, fast moving story. Be prepared to be inspired! There are some sad moments, but the warmth and love between these friends is wonderful. At first there were so many new faces in this small town group, but it didn't really take long to keep everybody straight once I spent some time with them. Really nice people. People you'd like to know personally, and better than anything you see on tv these days.

The people in this story decide to start a group for people who have unfinished projects laying around. They gather together to inspire and help each other to finish them. It's an eye opener if you're like me and keep putting projects off.  The closeness of the core people and the love they have for each other in their lives is inspiring too. You realize your life might be half finished as well. Full of great wisdom. Makes you want to cheer, hug and be part of the group. Christian fiction at it's best.

". . .life is not a contest to see how quickly we learn, which is an incredible gift from our God, who wants to help us grow. He never says, ‘Hurry up.'"

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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The Songbird And The Spy by J'Nell Ciesielski

"Claire was to make herself useful on their farm. Or else."

Softly at first, then shock. An American girl in France, studying music, as Germany invades. On a train with a blue eyed man. Which characters as she goes along will be of significance? Where does safety lie? Multi layered identities in a time of war and unprecedented evil. Luckily there ARE good people in the world who will help you, but then there are some who will turn on you too.

Claire is shifted out of her comfort zone and forced to run, and she's a bit sloppy about it. But she lands at a bar with a piano while she tries to find her way out of the country. Michael has more layers to his life and personality than most anyone you'll meet. Ideal for a British SIS agent posing as a German Captain in charge of deciphering communications behind enemy lines.

This expertly told story brings you to the harsh reality of Nazi occupied France, folding you in right from the first few pages. If you've ever seen a movie or learned about that time and place, you'll be like me, tense, waiting for the net to drop any time. Innocent people were forced to do things they never would dream of, were killed, tortured, made slaves. Everything taken, sometimes people too. Very well told, enthralling, a mystery to the end.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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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A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot

The last in a Christian historical fiction series that wraps things up in Cimarron creek 1881. Thea's husband was killed. She's a midwife and takes Aimee with her to Cimarron Creek. Jackson is a Texas Ranger looking for the gang who killed Thea's husband, and maybe he's looking for Thea too. An investigation he finds to be with ties near to his heart. Aimee is hoping to find her mother, and finds so much more. Nice romance and showings of faith. An interesting, satisfying and entertaining read.

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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