Mulberry Hollow

 

About the Book: 

Living life to the fullest always requires sacrifice.

Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again, this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

The second book in Denise Hunter’s popular Riverbend Romance series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free.

My Review: 

It would be a dream to walk the Appalachian Trail and I was drawn to the idea of Wes Garrett doing this as a fulfillment of a promise to his friend who died saving his life. His commitment in honoring his promise was admirable and showed great strength of character. 

Dr. Avery Robison lives in a small North Caroline town that I found to be a place that I would love to visit. Her dedication to the people of the area highlighted her truly giving heart since she gives all of her time to running the clinic. Could that drive be fear as she knows she has a 50% chance of inheriting a genetic disease from which her mother died? 

Watching the beautiful love story unfold between Wes and Avery made this a wonderful story.  My favorite quote was, ”Love can creep up on you, you know. It can take you by surprise, change all your plans-despite your best intentions.” 

 I recommend reading this book if you like Jan Karon’s Mitford series.  Once you meet the Robinson family and spend time in their part of the Appalachian Mountains, you won’t want to leave.  

This is the second book in the series. It can be read as a standalone because I didn't read the first book and could easily follow the storyline.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Miss Beaumont's Companion

 About the Book: 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana—1892

When lady’s companion Aria St. Angelo is coerced into posing as her political employer’s absent daughter for the evening at the Louisiana Governor’s masquerade ball, she wasn’t planning on falling for Byron Roderick, the most eligible bachelor in the capitol.

Byron Roderick is taken with the woman he knows as Mildred Beaumont, but when he discovers the lady's true identity, more than just his heart is at stake.

Mr Review: 

Being forced to impersonate Mildred Beaumont at a masquerade ball went against everything that Aria St. Angelo believed in, but with the threat of losing her position she has little choice. She must make an introduction to Byron Roderick, a  powerful politician’s son.

The theme of God taking care of you because you matter to Him was evident as Aria and Byron both hold true to their convictions, no matter the consequences. Seeing how they trust God to take care of the details of their lives was so rewarding, making this a quick and delightful read. I highly recommend this novella to readers of all ages. 

I received a copy of this novella, but I was not required to write a positive review. This review is my own opinion.

A Strike to the Heart

About the Book: 

She's fiercely independent. He's determined to protect her. Wisconsin, 1933--When a routine mission becomes an ambush that kills his team, Craft Agency sniper Miles Wright determines to find the persons responsible and protect the woman he rescued. But the fierce independence that led Lily Moore to leave her family's dairy business for the solitary life of a dog trainer and the isolation of her farm don't make that easy. Neither does his unwanted attraction to her. Meanwhile, escalating incidents confirm that she's far from safe.

Lily fears letting the surprisingly gentle retired marine into her life almost as much as she fears whoever is threatening her. As Wisconsin farmers edge toward another milk strike, one that will surely turn violent, it becomes clear that the plot against Lily may be part of a much larger conspiracy. When the search for her abductor leads close to home, she must decide whether to trust her family or the man who saved her life.

 My Review: 

Rescuing Lily Moore from kidnappers didn’t go the way that ex-sniper and team member of the Elite Company Miles Wright had envisioned. It certainly was not what I thought would happen! With such great details to this part of the story I found my heart racing and dodging bullets right along with Lily and Miles. 

I love a good mystery and trying to figure out the reason for Lily’s kidnapping and subsequent attempts on hers and Miles’ lives not only made this intriguing, but also added to the suspense of the story. With details being revealed throughout the story I found myself experiencing a gamut of emotions. Sometimes I felt smart because I figured out a part of the story, and other times I was perplexed because I didn’t see some things coming. But, isn’t that what you want from a book? 

I liked Miles’s strong sense of protectiveness for Lily. His strength and growing love for her made me know she was in good hands. He was the right man to see to her safety and still honor her need for independence and  running her business. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Gio, Miles’s friend who had his back when he needed support and guidance. His unwavering faith helped Miles when he needed it most. 

I recommend reading this book if you like historical or romance novels with a strong faith message. Thank you to the author and publisher for an electronic copy of the book. All opinions are my own and a positive review was not required. 

You can purchase the book through the following retailers: 

E-Book: Kindle
Paperback: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book | Indiebound | Publisher

Rating: 🐄🐄🐄🐄//5

Lily of the Valley

 

About the Book:

Cumberland, 1786

Amateur inventor Kester Barrington prefers the peace and quiet of his estate to the bustle of Society. But when his tight-knit group of friends, the Gents, descends on Livingsley Hall for their annual gathering, he stoically joins in their activities. It all seems exhausting—until an unexpected addition to the party catches his eye: his new neighbor, the lovely Violet.

Violet Ridley longs to make friends in this new corner of the country, but her family’s fortune was made through investments rather than inheritance, and Society can be fickle. So when tragedy forces her family to shelter at neighboring Livingsley Hall, Violet is delighted to receive a warm welcome from the Gents. In particular, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kester. The pair is a study in contrasts: Violet, with her sunny disposition, and Kester, with his prickly facade. Their connection is impossible to deny, but both Kester and Violet harbor heavy constraints. As their association becomes increasingly tangled and confused, their only hope of pursuing a life together is to trust one another with the very truths that could tear them apart.

My Review:

I want to say right now that I wish I could be a part of The Gents family! It would be so amazing to have friends like them who love you even when you don’t love yourself.

Kes Barrington is dubbed the “Grumpy Uncle” for a very good reason. He is surly and standoffish at times, and acts as though he would be perfectly content to live on a deserted island. But, no one truly finds out why he acts like that until Violet Ridley enters his life. With her sweet spirit and gentle ways, she helps Kes see that he can be himself and doesn’t need to live a life of regret.

Kes is also able to help Violet in ways she didn’t think possible. She has a guiding phrase that you are to always be happy, and if not, be silent. She carries this unrealistic burden and cannot get free of it until she confesses it to Kes. I rejoiced with her when she was able to see “that being genuine was more important than appearing cheerful, and being seen and understood was far better than being silent.”

Having both Kes and Violet looking to invent solutions to problems that have affected their lives was a brilliant part of the story. Both of them can appreciate the resourcefulness and the complex thoughts of the other person. I look forward to seeing Kes continue with his inventions and Violet being a part of the process.

I highly recommend this beautiful love story and the continuation of the stories of The Gents. If you enjoy clean and wholesome historical novels that you can recommend to younger and older ladies alike, read this book. You will be so happy you did.

I was given an e-copy of the book. Thank you to the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review; all opinions are my own.

Sir Andrew and the Authoress

About the Book: 

Lady Josephine, the duke's eldest daughter, has a secret. When her brother's horrid best friend discovers what she's been hiding up in the castle tower, she has no choice but to take him into her confidence.

As the daughter of a duke, Lady Josephine has a long list of responsibilities, and an even longer list of things she must never do to dishonor the family name. Josephine knows exactly which side becoming an author falls upon, but she's determined to try her hand at it anyway. For months she has worked on her novel in secret, writing chapter after chapter of intrigue and romance. Unfortunately for Josephine, her sworn enemy stumbles upon her secret.

Sir Andrew Wycomb's close relationship to the Duke of Montfort's family and heir gives him more than one advantage in life. His loyalty to the family is absolute, even if he finds at least one of its members an annoyance. He and Lady Josephine have never seen eye-to-eye. But when he discovers that she's written a novel upon a subject she knows nothing about, he cannot help but sympathize with her dream. This creates an unlikely ceasefire between them.

But things at the castle are always changing, and when a determined suitor arrives to court Josephine, Andrew has to decide which secrets he's going to keep. Especially when he discovers the one he's kept even from himself - that perhaps he doesn't find Josephine an annoyance at all. In fact, she is quite charming. The more time they spend together, the more he hopes she will realize they aren't enemies, and they could be so much more...

As the third stand-alone novel in this sereis by author Sally Britton, this story continues the Clairvoir Castle romances. This is a light-hearted, sweet romance series set during the Regency era in England.

My Review: 

 This lovely, light hearted historical romance with two childhood enemies finding love was just what I needed! Josephine and Andrew have constantly been at each other since the time they were small.  Andrew always knew the right buttons to push. Whether this was calling Josephine by her informal name of Josie, or teasing her, she avoided him as much as possible. Andrew had his work cut out for him as he had to prove that now he was older he had changed and that he loved her. 

The part of the book that I treasured was when Andrew finds Josie’s secret writing spot.  He doesn’t scoff at her idea of wanting be an authoress, but instead supports her in many sweet and thoughtful ways. How could she not help but care for him after all he has does for her? 

The historical aspect was well written, showing the political discontent that served as the catalyst for the family going to their country estate of Clairvoir Castle. Ms. Britton’s descriptions of both Josie’s family castle and Andrew’s smaller castle made me feel like I was there with them. It would have been fun to explore both castles and grounds as a guest. 

I recommend reading this book if you or a friend enjoy clean and wholesome romance stories. I was given a copy of this book with no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

Before the Fortress Falls Giveaway

Book Information: 

Title: Before the Fortress Falls

Author: A.L. Sowards

Release Date: April 1, 2022

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Genres: Christian Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction, War Fiction

About the Book:

When rumors reach Vienna that an attack by the Ottoman army is imminent, Wilhelm von Schor, one of the emperor’s courtiers, prepares to evacuate his family—including his sister, Katja. But Katja’s reluctance to leave the city and the people she loves so well grows the farther the family carriage gets from her childhood home. When she learns that another brother, Xavier, is returning to Vienna with his musketeers, she decides to remain behind and face the shadow of war.

Katja soon reunites with Xavier and also with Toby, a dear friend from childhood. As Katja and Toby renew their friendship, an element of attraction builds on the comradery of their youth, and they quickly realize they have found something worth fighting for: love. But all too soon, the Ottomans encircle the city, blanketing its inhabitants in fear. Katja, Toby, and Xavier must each fulfill their new roles if they are to survive. In the overcrowded hospitals, below ground in the countermines, and on the ramparts defending the city walls, the three must fight for love, family, faith, and the survival of their city and everyone inside.

My Review: 

4.5/5 stars Often when I go to historical sites I imagine what it might have been like to have lived there or what people would have done when an event took place.  A.L. Sowards has written a fascinating story that places you right in the midst of a crucial time in the history of Vienna.  With such gripping detail, I felt like I was sewing sandbags along with Katja, fighting alongside Toby, and feeling the sense of dread as the Turks were bombarding the city. History truly came alive as Katja, her brothers, and Toby all had important parts to play in the destiny of Vienna.  Each person had a different role that provided a rich and in depth perspective of the siege. 

With poignant events during the siege, I saw what people living during this time would have felt. I loved the healing and reconciliation that took place between Katja’s brothers. Toby and Katja’s tender love story showed that there is hope to continue on, even through the most difficult of circumstances. Death is shown in the battles, but if that is too much for you, you can skim through those details.  At points it was intense, but was well done and necessary to show the reality of what was occurring.  I recommend reading this richly detailed and interesting book if you like historical fiction or historical romance. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

Rating: 4.5/5 

About the Author:

A. L. Sowards is the author of multiple historical fiction novels, with settings spanning the globe from the fourteenth to twentieth centuries. Her stories have become Whitney Finalists and won a Whitney Award, reached the number one spot across multiple Amazon categories, received praise from the Historical Novel Society, and been loved by readers from a variety of backgrounds. She has called Washington State, Utah, and Alaska home. She enjoys hiking and swimming, usually manages to keep up with the laundry, and loves it when someone else cooks dinner. She lives with her husband, three children, and an ever-growing library.

Where to Purchase the Book:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58653736-before-the-fortress-falls 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GLG2CX6/ 

Deseret Book: https://deseretbook.com/p/before-the-fortress-falls?variant_id=198499-paperback 

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-the-fortress-falls-a-l-sowards/1140216107 

Seagull Book: https://www.seagullbook.com/before-the-fortress-falls.html 

Blog Tour Dates: 

Monday, April 4

Holly's Book Corner

Books and Everyday Life 

Tuesday, April 5

Getting Your Read On

Literary Time Out

Min Reads and Reviews

 Wednesday, April 6

My Book a Day

Book Looks by Lisa

Our Book Confessions 

Thursday, April 7

Why Not? Because I Said So!

Bookworm Lisa

Friday, April 8

Books Are Sanity

Life Is What It's Called

LDS and Lovin' It

Saturday, April 9

Reading with Emily

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The Souls of Lost Lake

My Review: 

I have come to expect excellent, exciting dual time stories from Jaime Jo Wright and she did it once again with The Souls of Lost Lake. The story set in the past was so horrific that, of course, it would need to be told around a late night campfire or at a slumber party. The modern story, intertwined with the lore of Lost Lake and the disappearance of a young girl, was perfect in providing the Gothic atmosphere for this suspenseful story. 

I shy away from eerie ghost tales, but with Ms. Wright’s stories I know I am going to be safe. Of course, the journey along the way had me white knuckling the book, but I trust she is going to give rational explanations of what happened.  Would I read this at bedtime? Nope! It was just at that level of tension that I don’t think I would’ve been able to sleep. 

This novel has unexpected twists that I really was surprised when the culprits were caught and their motives were revealed.  I love the Christian element of the story as I saw the characters’ faith grow throughout their struggles. I highly recommend reading this and getting a copy for a friend so you can discuss what you discover along the way. 

I was given a complimentary copy by Bethany House and was not expected to give a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Description:

To save the innocent, they must face an insidious evil.

Wren Blythe has long enjoyed living in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, helping her father with ministry at a youth camp. But when a little girl in the area goes missing, an all-out search ensues, reviving the decades-old campfire story of Ava Coons, the murderess who is believed to still roam the forest. Joining the search, Wren stumbles upon the Coonses' cabin ruins and a sinister mystery she is determined to unearth.

In 1930, Ava Coons has spent the last several years carrying the mantle of mystery since the day she emerged from the woods as a thirteen-year-old girl, spattered with blood, dragging a logger's ax. She has accepted she will never remember what happened to her family, whose bodies were never found, and that the people of Tempter's Creek will always blame her for their violent deaths. And after a member of the town is murdered, and another goes missing, rumors spread that Ava's secret is perhaps more malicious than previously imagined.

Two women, separated by time, must confront a wickedness that not only challenges who they are but also threatens their lives, and the lives of those they love.