tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49818981563654605952024-02-20T04:42:50.331-05:00Heart to Heart BooksA place where I can share with others my thoughts and impressions on good books and hopefully help them find inspirational books to read.Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-9243204975159374572020-02-27T20:52:00.000-05:002020-02-27T20:52:24.201-05:00Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano<img alt="Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses Book #2) by [Turano, Jen]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nFD%2BEd5KL.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy's grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Diamonds in the Rough </i>by Jen Turano is the second novel in her American Heiress series. The novel is entertaining and rollicking, as the reader enjoys gallivanting through the various escapades that Poppy finds herself embroiled in. The storyline of this book is well written and moves at a quick but easily followed pace. There is a wonderful mix of witty comebacks, drama, suspense, and humorous situations as the main characters discover the true personality that lies beneath a "rough" exterior. The characters in this novel are well developed and very different from one another in their characteristics, witticisms, and overall personality which adds to the charm and enjoyment while reading this novel. I loved watching Reginald and Poppy literally keep falling into one another and then seeing them interact and try to understand one another while Poppy tries to undertake the process in becoming a society heiress. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and I would highly recommend this series. I look forward to reading the next one in the series. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-32115463733286333302019-01-19T12:38:00.000-05:002019-01-19T12:38:02.509-05:00Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover152254-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father in 1759 Montreal, Catherine Duval finds it is easier to remain neutral in a world that is tearing itself apart. Content to trade with both the French and the British, Catherine is pulled into the fray against her wishes when her British ex-</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">fiance, Samuel Crane, is taken prisoner by her father. Samuel asks her to help him escape, claiming he has information that could help end the war. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Peace appeals to Catherine, but helping the man who broke her heart does not. She delays . . . until attempts on Samuel's life convince her he's in mortal danger. Against her better judgment she helps him flee by river, using knowledge of the landscape to creep ever closer to freedom. Their time together rekindles feelings she thought long buried, and danger seems to hound their every mile. She's risked becoming a traitor by choosing a side, but will the decision cost her even more than she anticipated?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Between Two Shores </b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">by Jocelyn Green was an excellent novel that honestly delved into the sometimes ignored aspect of history -namely the French and Indian War and its effects on the French-Canadian settlers and the native peoples alike. The plot was well crafted and flowed seamlessly between flashbacks of Catherine's past and the present time. The story was told almost exclusively from Catherine's point of view and allowed the reader to understand her feelings, struggles, and actions. I enjoyed discovering more about how the different Indian tribes were allied with the French and/or British, the different practices that occurred between these groups (such as the ransoming of British captives by the French-Canadians for servants), and the rationale for why certain groups performed particular acts. Jocelyn Green did a marvelous job with her research and then crafting a story that allowed the reader to sympathize with all parties involved. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The characters were also well developed and multi-dimensional with unique experiences, flaws, and strengths that added to the story's development. Catherine was an intriguing character who suffered much but also learned to trust God and to find her identity in Him instead of struggling with her mixed heritage. Oftentimes historical fiction leans heavily on romance for the plot, and I really appreciated that romance was not the defining feature of this novel. Instead, the author pointed to the fact that happiness, contentment, and satisfaction are found first in God, not in another person. So while my heart was left somewhat broken at the end for the main characters in this novel, I was satisfied with the conclusion and the reality of what the real people affected by these true events might have experienced and felt. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. </span></span></span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-29218016453079074632019-01-03T14:05:00.000-05:002019-01-03T14:05:53.161-05:00Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover149164-medium.png" /><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she's always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he's unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.</span></i><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora's secret threaten those they love, they'll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Flights of Fancy </i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">is the first in Jen Turano's new series, American Heiresses, and it certainly starts off the series with a bang (or I guess as Elmer would say, with a cluck). Izzie has always been a proper but intelligent daughter of a wealthy family who knows she will marry well but intent on marrying the right person. When her mother tries to set her up with a man rumored to have down away his previous wives, Isadora takes the only option she can think of...run away to be a housekeeper in the country. The following escapades and disasters that occur are exceedingly entertaining...who knew doing laundry could be so dangerous... and the lessons that Izzie learns along the way, extremely valuable. The other more minor characters, such as Aunt Bertha and Uncle Amos, add their own wonderful quirks and advice to the story, and the four young orphans that Ian finds in his homes are adorable, rambunctious, and all too willing to help Buttercup learn to climb stairs and to open doors (yes, Buttercup is a cow). </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I heartily enjoyed the adventures that both Isadora and Ian found themselves in the middle of, their hilarious dialogue and interactions, and the growth that both main characters experienced as they learned to let go of selfish plans and to be willing to grow their goals to meet the needs of others as well. The ending of the novel was simultaneously amusing (Elmer really leaves no other option) and heartwarming, and I cannot wait to see which American Heiress is next (my fingers are crossed for Isadora's best friend)!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Jen Turano and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. </span></span></span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-40648565518113579462019-01-03T13:37:00.000-05:002019-01-03T13:37:44.684-05:00Searching For You by Jody Hedlund<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover144933-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Despite years on the run, Sophie Neumann is determined to care for two young children. She won't abandon them the way she thinks her older sisters abandoned her. But times are growing desperate, and when she falls in with the wrong crowd and witnesses a crime, she realizes fleeing 1850's New York is her only option.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Disappearing with her two young charges into a group of orphans heading west by train, Sophie hopes to find safety and a happy life. When the train stops in Illinois for the first placement of orphans, Sophie faces the most difficult choice of her life.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Reinhold Weiss has finally purchased his own small farm. With mounting debts, a harvest to bring in, and past scars that haunt him, he's in no position to give his heart away . . . but can he say no when his long-lost friend shows up on a nearby train pleading for his help?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><i>Searching For You </i>is the third and final novel in </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jody Hedlund's Orphan Train trilogy, and it finally reveals to the readers of this series whatever happened to Sophie, Olivia, and Nicholas -the three children Elise and Marianna spent so much time searching for in the previous two novels. In this novel, however, Sophie is no longer a child and is angry, hurt, and shame-filled as she attempts to care for the two little ones in any way she can. As a result, she ends up on an orphan train, eventually separated from the two she loves most, and in the same town as her old family friend, Reinhold. Reinhold has been in all three novels, and I was cheering for him at this point to finally find peace and contentment. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this novel (I was also rooting for some matchmaking between other, minor characters, but the author left that to the reader's imagination) and seeing the main characters grow stronger together and in the Lord. It was sweet to see both Reinhold and Sophie learn to confess and surrender their fears and failures to God and to experience both His and others' love and forgiveness anew. I really enjoyed this series as a whole, and I look forward to seeing what stories Jody Hedlund chooses to write next!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-65941345277384996142019-01-03T13:15:00.000-05:002019-01-03T13:15:55.464-05:00The Lieutenant's Bargain by Regina Jennings<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover144417-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Hattie Walker dreams of becoming a painter, while her parents want her to settle down. As a compromise, they give her two months to head to Denver and place her works in an exhibition or give up the dream forever. Her journey is derailed when a gunman attacks her stagecoach, leaving her to be rescued by a group of Arapaho . . . but she's too terrified to recognize them as friendly.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Confirmed bachelor Lieutenant Jack Hennessey has long worked with the tribe and is tasked with trying to convince them that the mission school at Fort Reno can help their children. When a message arrives about a recovered survivor, Jack heads out to take her home--and plead his case once more.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">He's stunned to run into Hattie Walker, the girl who shattered his heart--but quickly realizes he has a chance to impress her. When his plan gets tangled through translation, Jack and Hattie end up in a mess that puts her dreams in peril--and tests Jack's resolve to remain single.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>The Lieutenant's Bargain </i>is the second novel in Regina Jennings' Fort Reno series and is an amusing addition to the series. The novel is well written, containing elements of mystery, suspense, romance, danger, and comedy. The characters are fairly well developed and have some truly entertaining and heartwarming interactions. Hattie and Jack find themselves in a tangled mess with no seemingly easy way out that is both amusing and endearing for the reader. I enjoyed seeing how both continue to fight their growing attraction while at the same time attempting to hold onto their separate dreams. It was fun to watch them learn to trust the guidance of God and His plan instead of holding out for their own wishes. And in the end they find what they truly needed and could gain was so much greater than their original plans. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next addition to the series. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-11980140341166291282019-01-03T13:03:00.000-05:002019-01-03T13:03:21.784-05:00Jerusalem's Queen by Angela Hunt<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover143842-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Born in the small village of Modein, a town made famous by the warrior Maccabees, Salome Alexandra knows better than to harbor grand dreams for her future. She pales in comparison to her beautiful older sister, and though she learns to read at an early age, girls are not valued for their intellectual ability. But when her father and sister are killed, John Hyrcanus, a distant relative, invites Salome and her mother to live with his family in Jerusalem, where her thirst for knowledge is noticed and indulged.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When her guardian betroths her to a pagan prince, she questions HaShem's plan. When Hyrcanus finally marries her to a boy half her age, she questions her guardian's sanity. But though Salome spends much of her life as a pawn ordered about by powerful men, she learns that a woman committed to HaShem can change the world. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jerusalem's Queen </i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">by Angela Hunt is a phenomenal book that reveals an era of Israel's history that I was not at all familiar with. This novel is the third book in Angela Hunt's series, The Silent Years, which covers the time in between the biblical book of Malachi and Matthew when the prophets were silent. While this is the third book in the series, the books can be read in any order (though you will have more backstory if you read the second novel, <i>Judah's Wife</i>, prior to reading this one). This novel takes place a few decades after the Maccabees free Jerusalem and goes until just a generation prior to Jesus' birth (in fact, I love how the author connected Salome's tutor, Simeon, to the Simeon that gets to see Jesus in the tabernacle as an infant). I did not know much about this time in Israel's history, and it was really interesting to learn about the powerful female leaders that existed in the ancient world during this time. The interactions between Israel and the other powerful nations at the time was intriguing, and it was shocking at times to see the pure evil that spilled out between family members, rulers, and nations. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The plot of this novel was well crafted and alternated between the third person view of Salome and the third person point of view of her slave, Kiera. It was interesting to see their very different perspectives and also to see how they both grew to trust and to believe more fully in HaShem and His plan for their lives and for Israel. I loved seeing Salome Alexandra grow and change as she attempted to guide her wicked husband in order to keep Israel from being destroyed both externally and internally. I was pulled into the disputes, different beliefs, and the tragedies that occurred between the different Jewish religious sects and how these set up for much of what is seen in Jesus' interactions with the teachers of the law in the Bible. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good historical fiction. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span></span></span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-2201285675425462572018-09-01T18:48:00.000-04:002018-09-01T18:51:47.798-04:00The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover101130-medium.png" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720's French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>The Mark of the King </i>by Jocelyn Green was an interesting and thought provoking read about a subject and time period I knew very little about. It involves the prison/exile French colony in Louisiana, and it delves into the conditions faced by the prisoners, locals, and soldier in ramshackle town of New Orleans. The plot line was well written and moved at the perfect pace, allowing me to dig deeper into the story and really connect with the characters. The descriptions of the settings, environment, and situations were outstanding, and I felt like I could actually picture what was happening. The characters were well developed and realistic, and I felt as if I could actually feel the emotions that Julianne experienced as she found herself first unfairly imprisoned, then married, and finally across the seas in the wilderness of Louisiana. I was drawn into her conflicts and the decisions she had to make, and I appreciated the other, more minor characters and the depth they added to the story. Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading more of Jocelyn Green's excellent books. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-35779095686323218912018-09-01T18:15:00.000-04:002018-09-01T18:15:49.559-04:00Egypt's Sister: A novel of Cleopatra by Angela Hunt<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover109812-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Five decades before the birth of Christ, Chava, daughter of the royal tutor, grows up with Urbi, a princess in Alexandria's royal palace. When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what--but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Torn from her family, her community, and her elevated place in Alexandrian society, Chava finds herself cast off and alone in Rome. Forced to learn difficult lessons, she struggles to trust a promise HaShem has given her. After experiencing the best and worst of Roman society, Chava must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-size: 14px;">Egypt's Sister </i><span style="font-size: 14px;">is the first novel in Angela Hunt's new series, the Silent Years, which follows the Jewish people during the time period between the Old and New Testament when they have no communication with God via prophets. I recently wrote a review on the second novel in this series, </span><i style="font-size: 14px;">Judah's Wife</i><span style="font-size: 14px;">, which covers Israel during the Maccabean era. <i>Egypt's Sister </i>is about the Jews living in Egypt during Cleopatra's reign as Egypt begins to fall under the control of Rome. The story centers around Chava and her childhood friendship with Urbi (aka Cleopatra) and what happens to both girls as they age. It was very interesting to see the backstory behind Cleopatra, to see the tragedy and betrayal that existed in her own family, and to watch as the decisions she made led her further and further into uncertainly, lies, and deceit. I also was intrigued to follow the fictional story of Chava as she suffered under the slavery conditions in Rome and had to learn to persevere and to forgive even in the midst of great pain. I was pulled into the story from the first page, and I could not put it down until the end. I was moved to tears at times by the realistic narration and the hardship that both girls experienced for different reasons. Overall, I highly enjoyed diving into this novel, and I look forward to reading more of Angela Hunt's new series. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. </span></span></span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-61285740564908913602018-09-01T17:45:00.000-04:002018-09-01T17:52:26.218-04:00An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover114308-medium.png" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, and he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. He's certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, but while Frederica is strangely elusive, he can't seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, her uncle will only help them if she'll use her beauty to assist him in his political aims. Already uncomfortable with this agreement, the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she wishes to be free of her unfortunate obligation.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Will Griffith and Isabella be able to set aside their pride and face their fears in time to find their own happily-ever-after?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>An Inconvenient Beauty </i>is the fourth and final novel in Kristi Ann Hunter's Hawthorne series, and it was a fitting finale to the series. This novel is about the oldest Hawthorne sibling, the Duke of Riverton. He is the gruff, aloof, and almost cold member of the family, and he has decided it is time for him to take a wife. The story follows the oftentimes entertaining, other times truly moving, adventure as he finds his well made plans are thrown awry by the beautiful Isabella Breckenridge. The plot is well written and moves at an excellent pace, allowing the reader to get settled into the story and setting. The themes are flawlessly interwoven and are thought provoking as the characters deal with their inner issues. The characters are well developed and realistic, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. I enjoyed watching Griffith and Isabella butt heads and learn from their differences and their mistakes. Overall, I have truly enjoyed reading this series, and I look forward to reading more of Kristi Ann Hunter's new books.<br /><br />I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-86794598825048579042018-09-01T17:25:00.000-04:002018-09-01T17:25:25.243-04:00Holding the Fort by Regina Jennings<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover118444-medium.png" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Louisa Bell never wanted to be a dance-hall singer, but dire circumstances force her hand. With a little help from her brother in the cavalry, she's able to make ends meet, but lately he's run afoul of his commanding officer, so she undertakes a visit to straighten him out. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno. He can barely control his rowdy troops, much less his two adolescent daughters. If Daniel doesn't find someone respectable to guide his children, his mother-in-law insists she'll take them.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Louisa arrives with some reading materials, she's mistaken for the governess who never appeared. Major Adams is skeptical. She bears little resemblance to his idea of a governess--they're not supposed to be so blamed pretty--but he's left without recourse. His mother-in-law must be satisfied, which leaves him turning a blind eye to his unconventional governess's methods. Louisa's never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Holding the Fort by Regina Jennings was an entertaining and well written novel that kept me glued to the pages. The plot moved along at a quick pace, and it alternated in point of view between Louisa and Daniel. The story was filled with moments of suspense, danger, romance, and hilarity. I enjoyed seeing the scrapes that Lousia got herself into and seeing how she managed to worm her way back out of them. It was fun to watch her try to figure out how to be a governess while simultaneously try not to fall for Daniel. The characters in this novel were interesting and entertaining, with the girls and Lousia's brother adding extra depth and comedic effect. It was also nice to see both Louisa and Daniel work through their differences and to see Louisa finally begin to grasp what it means to be saved by God and to rest on His forgiveness for past and future sins. Overall, I thought this book was an entertaining and even thought-provoking read. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-85673422775580554242018-09-01T12:18:00.000-04:002018-09-01T12:18:29.797-04:00Together Forever by Jody Hedlund<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover130584-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Marianne Neumann has one goal in life: to find her lost younger sister, Sophie. When Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children's Aid Society in 1858 New York, she not only hopes to give children a better life but seeks to discover whether Sophie ended up leaving the city on an orphan train.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Andrew Brady, her fellow agent on her first placing trip, is a former schoolteacher who has an easy way with the children--firm but tender and funny. Underneath his handsome charm, though, seems to linger a grief that won't go away--and a secret from his past that he keeps hidden. As the two team up placing orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Together Forever </i>is the second novel in Jody Hedlund's new series, Orphan Train, and it focuses on the second sister, Marianne. I enjoyed this novel and learning more about the placement of young children throughout the west in the 1850's. It was sad to think about children that did not end up with good placements, as well as the lack of background checks or any other type of screening that occurred prior to children being left with new families. On the other hand, the question still remains were the children worse off than being left to wander the streets of New York alone? I thought the author did a good job discussing the morality of the issue, both with her characters' thoughts on the matter as well as in her Afterword. I enjoyed the plot of the novel, I thought it was well developed and captivating at times. The characters were interesting, though I did think that the romance between Marianne and Brady was rushed, which did make it a little less believable. However, overall, I enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to the next book, which will hopefully give us some clues about Sophie. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-2126563287721618442018-08-31T15:46:00.000-04:002018-08-31T15:46:04.787-04:00Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: none;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;">A</em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;">uschwitz Lullaby</em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;"> brings to life the story of Helene Hannemann—a woman who sacrificed everything for family and fought furiously for the children she hoped to save.</strong></div>
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On an otherwise ordinary morning in 1943, Helene Hannemann is preparing her five children for the day when the German police arrive at her home. Helene’s worst fears come true when the police, under strict orders from the SS, demand that her children and husband, all of Romani heritage, be taken into custody. Though Helene is German and safe from the forces invading her home, she refuses to leave her family—sealing her fate in a way she never could have imagined. </div>
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Through sheer force of will, Helene provides a haven for the children of Auschwitz—an act of kindness and selflessness so great that it illuminates the darkest night of human history. Based on a true story, Mario Escobar’s <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;">Auschwitz Lullaby</em> demonstrates the power of sacrifice and the strength of human dignity—even when all hope seems lost.</div>
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<i>Auschwitz Lullaby </i>by Mario Escobar was a truly remarkable read. When I first began the journey into this story, I had no idea of the magnitude of human emotion that lay within the pages, especially as I reflected on the truth of the story. This book tells the story of the Romani gypsies that are so often forgotten in the sheer horror of the atrocities that went on at Auschwitz. The Romani people were persecuted as the Jews were, forced into "little Auschwitz" where they too suffered terribly, including entire barracks being massacred to avoid typhoid outbreaks, medical experimentation, and genetic tortures. Of the over 23,000 Romani sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, 19,000 perished in the gas chambers at Birkenau before World War 2 ended. </div>
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All of these facts were new to me, as I had never read anything about the Romani's plight during this time period. As I absorbed the horrors that Helene faced, I was overwhelmed by her faith, her persistence, and her courage. She chose life in a death camp to be with her family when she could have walked away free. She demonstrated what it means to love so much that you will sacrifice your life for others. I was so inspired by her choice to use her gifts and her heritage to bring a little joy and love into seemingly hopeless situation. At the end of this novel, I was left in tears as I reflected on the bravery of this real-life woman, especially as I looked further into the real actions and cruelty of the doctor she worked for and the female guards. Overall, this book was an extremely emotional read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to know more about what went on at Auschwitz. </div>
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I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </div>
Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-55664095783024671782018-08-31T15:10:00.000-04:002018-08-31T15:19:47.887-04:00Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover133650-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Miss Temperance Flowerdew is on her way to work when a stranger suddenly grabs her off the street and sends her on a Chicago-bound train before she can figure out what happened.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind the abduction, they're seen alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Gilbert is willing to propose marriage--except Temperance will have none of it. She's finally stepped out of the shadow of her relations and won't give up her independence. But when it becomes clear the misunderstanding in Chicago has escalated into a threat on her life and followed her to New York, accepting Gilbert's help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Caught by Surprise </i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">is the third novel and final novel in Jen Turano's Apart from the Crowd series, aka the Wallflower girls as I like to think of them. All of the novels in this series can be read separately, but you certainly will have the most understanding about the backgrounds of the supporting characters in this novel if you read them in order. </span></span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Caught by Surprise </i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">was an entertaining read, with secret villains, incompetent criminals, lip-reading spinsters, and lots of almost-lists. The plot moved at an appropriate pace and held unexpected twists and turns that took me a little while to figure out. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I enjoyed the dialogue between characters, particularly between Mercy and her brother at the beginning, as well as the verbal sparring between Temperance and Gilbert throughout the novel. It was fun to see how characters from the previous novels were interspersed as well, which allowed the reader to see how their lives had progressed from the other books. I also liked watching both Gilbert and Temperance work to discover both their similarities and differences and learn to embrace change the habits they had adopted in the decade or so before. One thing I would have liked to see more of was a better weaving of having faith and trust in God into the story. I think the characters' faith could have been expressed more clearly, especially as they began to return to their trust in God throughout the story. Overall, however, I thought this novel was a light and enjoyable summer read, and it was amusing to get to know the characters over the course of the three novels. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Jen Turano and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-33442581435984774192018-08-24T14:25:00.002-04:002018-08-24T14:25:51.140-04:00Behind the Scenes is only 99 cents -LIMITED TIME<img alt="Behind the Scenes (Apart From the Crowd Book #1) by [Turano, Jen]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51x-%2B06-6jL.jpg" /><br />
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Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano is 99 cents on Amazon for a limited time. So if you have not begun Jen's Apart from the Crowd series yet, this is a great time to begin as this is the first novel in that series. I will be posted a review of the third novel in the series, Caught By Surprise, this weekend. In the meantime, head over to Amazon and check out this great deal!<br />
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https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Scenes-Apart-Crowd-Book-ebook/dp/B01M5AM9OF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535134923&sr=8-1&keywords=9781441230959Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-15802502690525154752018-07-20T17:50:00.000-04:002018-07-20T17:50:16.182-04:00Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover124428-medium.png" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In 1773 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Although it flies against all the conventions for women of the time, they're determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, proper gender roles are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined--and that's just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this unfamiliar world. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Set on keeping her family together and saving her father's plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Keturah is the first novel in Lisa T. Bergren's new series the Sugar Baron's Daughters. It follows Keturah and her younger sisters as they leave everything they have known in England and travel to their belated father's struggling sugar plantation in the Caribbean. The plot was filled with moments of suspense, danger, tragedy, and romance and it kept me glued to the pages. The characters were interesting and fairly well developed, with each sister having a distinct personality. The other minor characters also added to the depth of the story. I thought the themes in the novel were well described and demonstrated the importance of forgiveness, trusting others and God, and moving beyond one's past mistakes. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading the sequels. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-71067062180354869232018-07-20T16:38:00.000-04:002018-07-20T16:38:11.016-04:00Judah's Wife by Angela Hunt<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover120971-medium.png" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Seeking peace and safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries Judah, a strong and gentle man, and for the first time in her life Leah believes she can rest easily. But the land is ruled by Antiochus IV, descended from one of Alexander the Great's generals, and when he issues a decree that all Jews are to conform to Syrian laws upon pain of death, devout Jews risk everything to follow the law of Moses.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Judah's father resists the decree, igniting a war that will cost him his life. But before dying, he commands his son to pick up his sword and continue the fight--or bear responsibility for the obliteration of the land of Judah. Leah, who wants nothing but peace, struggles with her husband's decision--what kind of God would destroy the peace she has sought for so long? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The miraculous story of the courageous Maccabees is told through the eyes of Judah's wife, who learns that love requires courage . . . and sacrifice. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Judah's Wife by Angela Hunt is the second novel in her Silent Years series. This series occurs between the last Israelite prophet and the birth of Jesus when God was silent with His people, and the series is about different women during different areas/time periods that were critical to the Jewish. These books can be read in any order as a result. This novel is about the Maccabees and their revolt against the terrible cruelty of Antiochus IV. The plot is well written and jumps smoothly between Leah and Judah's perspectives. The storyline spans over a decade and details the hardships that the Maccabees faced as they faced fight after fight and were reliant on the strength and power of God to see them through. The characters were well developed with realistic strengths and weaknesses. As the story progresses, it was interesting to see how Leah changed and began to love and to trust both her husband and God. The end of the novel was incredibly sad, no less so because it was based on historical recordings. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading the next Silent Years book. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-6244367322489341172018-07-13T10:35:00.000-04:002018-07-13T10:35:10.056-04:00A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover124425-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia but finds the same dangers lurking in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers threaten the life of a young boy left in her care, who some suspect to be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement, Azilum, offer permanent refuge?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate the land of his hard-won farm near Azilum, but soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they will be drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green was an excellent novel in a setting and time in history that is often not as explored in fiction. The plot was well written and explored the fear of the French Revolution both in France and even in the French Quarter in America as well as the anger of many Americans at the imposition of the Whisky tax and the ensuing Whiskey Rebellion. I was drawn into the fears, anger, and other emotions of the time as both Liam and Vivienne sought to find their place in a changing time. There were instances of suspense, betrayal, and danger that added to the story and kept me glued to the pages. I liked both Liam and Vivienne, and I enjoyed seeing how they adapted to the struggles of farming and rebellion and learned to trust more fully in God as well as one another. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading more of Jocelyn Green's novels. I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-32689749589664218242018-07-12T10:34:00.000-04:002018-07-12T10:34:35.634-04:00The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px; outline: none;">
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Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . .</div>
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Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too—where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer’s and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;">The Sleeping Beauty</em>—a castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever.</div>
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Bridging the past to the present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—<em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;">The Lost Castle </em>is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations.</div>
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The Lost Castle was an interesting novel with a truly unique unfolding in its storytelling. The novel covers three different time periods and alternates between the three. The first is present day as Ellie Carver travels to rural France to discover the man her grandmother first loved. The second perspective is during WW2 in the same area of France where Violet (Ellie's grandmother) finds herself helping the French Resistance from the ruins of an old castle. The final intertwined perspective is during the French Revolution where the first love story plays out in the same castle. At first I had trouble connecting to all the storylines as the book kept jumping from one story to another. However, as the stories played out, I was caught up in the dangers of the two past time periods and their connections to one another. I fell in love with the area described and was drawn into the emotions of each period. I was brought to tears by Vi's story as Ellie discovered the truth of her grandmother's past, and I rejoiced with members of the original story of the castle. Once I got past the initial confusion in the plot, I highly enjoyed this novel and the interconnections between the castle's rich history. I would highly recommend this novel. </div>
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I received this novel from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All words and thoughts are my own. </div>
Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-24995020853949033402018-07-12T10:22:00.000-04:002018-07-12T10:22:03.189-04:00The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel C. Rosenberg<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover125229-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">With an American president distracted by growing tensions in North Korea and Iran, an ominous new threat is emerging in Moscow. A czar is rising in the Kremlin, a Russian president feverishly consolidating power, silencing his opposition, and plotting a brazen and lightning-fast military strike that could rupture the NATO alliance and bring Washington and Moscow to the brink of nuclear war. But in his blind spot is the former U.S. Secret Service agent, Marcus Ryker, trained to protect but ready to kill to save his country.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Kremlin Conspiracy is a well researched, well written novel that dives into some of the concerns and threats that exist in the modern world today and creates a plausible picture of the potential future. I love how the author takes actual recent past actions (invasions in Georgia, Ukraine, etc), actual characteristics, policies, and election details of current political world leaders and then gives the reader ideas of what could happen in the future if current themes and issues are not addressed. The plot was well developed with sudden and unexpected twists of suspense, murder, danger, and tragedy. I liked how the author wove in Marcus' backstory and how his past actions, skills, and friendships led him to the end results of this novel. I also appreciated the rawness of his guilt and depression in the wake of tragedy and how realistic it was. Overall, I thought this was a well written and engaging political thriller, and I look forward to where the story may go from here. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Tyndale House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-6278304033830198512018-07-12T10:07:00.000-04:002018-07-12T10:07:32.778-04:00Falling for You by Becky Wade<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover130586-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Famously beautiful model Willow Bradford is taking a temporary break from her hectic schedule to work as the innkeeper at her family's small-town bed-and-breakfast. She was enjoying the peace of her hometown, Merryweather, Washington, right up until she came face-to-face with Corbin Stewart, the man she loves to hate. A thoughtful rule-follower by nature, Willow threw caution to the wind four years ago when she entrusted her heart to Corbin--and suffered the consequences when it all fell apart.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Former NFL quarterback Corbin is forceful, charming, and accustomed to getting what he wants . . . except where Willow Bradford is concerned. Unable to forget her, he's never stopped regretting what happened between them. When their paths unexpectedly cross again, he's determined to make her give him a second chance.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When a decades-old missing persons case finds Corbin and Willow working together, they're forced to confront their past and who they've become--and whether they can risk falling for one another all over again.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Falling for You is the second novel in Becky Wade's new series Bradford Sisters Romance, but it is perfectly possible to read this novel on its own. The first novel follows Nora's romance, and this second book focuses on Willow, her older sister. I found this novel to be very enjoyable, with a side mystery that initially forces Corbin and Willow to work together as well as flash backs to Corbin and Willow's past relationship as they begin to work through the issues that initially separated them before. I thought that Willow's changes in heart and what perfection really means as a child of God were critical to the story and important for everyone to understand in their own lives. At the same time, it was neat to see Corbin as a new Christian begin to work through his own sins and flaws and him realizing it was only through God's strength that he could do that. I loved still seeing John and Nora and also getting a taste for Britt's story in the next novel as she also had some sections in this novel where she was the focus. Overall, I love this series, and I cannot wait to read the next installment. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-68343597448123412952018-07-12T09:58:00.000-04:002018-07-12T09:58:02.292-04:00The Heart's Appeal by Jennifer Delamere<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover126592-medium.png" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Strong-minded and independent Julia Bernay comes to London to study medicine and become a doctor--a profession that has only just opened up to women. She witnesses a serious accident, and through her quick actions saves the life of an ambitious young barrister named Michael Stephenson.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Coming from a family that long ago lost its money and its respectability, Michael Stephenson has achieved what many would have thought was impossible. Hard work and an aptitude for the law have enabled him to rise above his family's stigma and set him on the path to wealth and recognition. But his well-laid plans are upended when the accident brings Julia into his life. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Michael soon discovers he's met a woman every bit as stubborn and determined to make her mark on the world as he is. Sparks fly--but will they find common ground?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Heart's Appeal is an interesting and enjoyable novel that delves into the heart of the matter...what is more important, love and forgiveness, or one's own ambitions no matter the cost? The plot of this novel moves quickly and is well written with some suspense, moments of sadness and anger, and of course romance. The story was both entertaining and convicting, and I enjoyed learning more about what it meant to be a female doctor in training at a time when it was very much still frowned upon in society. I liked Julia and Michael, and I thought they were well developed with relatable flaws and strengths. I enjoyed watching them work through their difficulties and learn to trust in God's plan instead of their own strengths. Overall, I enjoyed this novel. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-47585278603904392752018-07-11T10:34:00.000-04:002018-07-11T10:34:59.516-04:00A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover120970-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I--to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> A Song Unheard is the second novel in Roseanna White's new series, A Shadow Over England. The plot is well written and fast paced, including elements of mystery, danger, romance, betrayal, and ultimately forgiveness. I loved learning more about what those in Belgium faced during the beginning of WWI as the Germans began the invasion of this country. I liked how the author jumped between Willa, Lukas, and Lukas' family's perspective to allow for a full picture of what was occurring. I was completely drawn into the story and had trouble putting the book down. I loved both Willa and Lukas, and I thought that all the characters were developed well. The other more minor characters really added to the story, especially as some of them were not fictional at all. I enjoyed watching both Willa and Lukas learn from one another and develop into more trusting and forgiving people as they became more understanding of God's love and forgiveness for them. Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I cannot wait to experience Barclay's story in the next novel in this series. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. </span></span></span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-18023942237759148112018-07-09T20:43:00.000-04:002018-07-09T20:43:01.589-04:00More than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover130583-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Many consider Evangeline Hamilton cursed. Orphaned at a young age and possessing a pair of mismatched eyes--one bright blue, the other dark brown--Eva has fought to find her way in a world that constantly rejects her. Yet the support of even one person can help overcome the world's judgments, and Eva has two--Seth and Zach, two former orphans she now counts as brothers. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Seeking justice against the man who stole his birthright and destroyed his family, Logan Fowler arrives in 1880s Pecan Gap, Texas, to confront Zach Hamilton, the hardened criminal responsible for his father's death. Only instead of finding a solitary ruthless gambler, he discovers a man not much older than himself with an unusual family. When Zach's sister, Evangeline, insists on dousing Logan with sunshine every time their paths cross, Logan finds his quest completely derailed. Who is truly responsible for his lost legacy, and will restoring the past satisfy if it means forfeiting a future with Evangeline?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">More than Meets the Eye is a cute and yet still convicting novel that delves into what it means to truly look beyond one's outer appearance and see the person that God created them to be and who they truly are. I enjoyed seeing Eva and Logan learn to look past their differences, their failings, and their carefully constructed facades to grow and to become people willing to trust in one another and God. I thought the storyline had an enjoyable mix of romance, danger, and suspense, and I look forward to hopefully reading a story about Zach sometime in the future! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I received this book from Netgalley (and Bethany House) in exchange for an honest review. </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-75560793105801445202018-07-08T21:44:00.000-04:002018-07-08T21:44:56.166-04:00A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover130585-medium.png" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As a biochemist in early 1900s New York, Doctor Rosalind Werner has dedicated her life to the crusade against waterborne diseases. She is at the forefront of a groundbreaking technology that will change the way water is delivered to every household in the city--but only if she can get people to believe in her work.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York, Nicholas Drake is highly skeptical of Rosalind and her team's techniques. When a brewing court case throws him into direct confrontation with her, he is surprised by his reaction to the lovely scientist.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">While Rosalind and Nick wage a private war against their own attraction, they stand firmly on opposite sides of a battle that will impact far more than just their own lives. As the controversy grows more public and inflammatory and Rosalind becomes the target of an unknown enemy, the odds stacked against these two rivals swiftly grow more insurmountable with every passing day.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A Daring Venture is an interesting and enjoyable novel that is the second in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Elizabeth Camden's Empire State series (after <i>A Dangerous Legacy) </i>but can technically read as a standalone book as well, just with a little less depth of story. This novel follows a few years after A Dangerous Legacy and focuses on Nick Drake, the brother of Lucy. The plot line is well written and shows the quandary that scientists faced in New York/New Jersey with wanting to purify the city's water supply to reduce disease risk while facing opposition from the government. The plot follows a true lawsuit that occurred and the scientists that still worked to save hundreds and thousands of lives. The fictional characters of Dr. Werner and Nick Drake were both well developed and entertaining as they learned from their mistakes and learned to trust one another. The one thing I did think was rushed was the initial spark of romance between the two; aside from that their story played out slower with moments of romance, danger, suspense, and also a culmination of a storyline that started in Lucy's novel. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the next book in the series. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. </span></span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981898156365460595.post-61288467321579576782018-07-08T20:27:00.000-04:002018-07-08T20:27:12.459-04:00A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover131283-medium.png" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. And as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, revealing the truth isn't worth putting him and everyone she loves in danger.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">A Defense of Honor is the first novel in Kristi Ann Hunter's new series, Haven Manor, and it is a fabulously crafted story that delves into what it means to forgive, accept forgiveness, and take responsibility for the consequences of one's actions. I thought the plot and overarching storyline were well written and continued important elements of mystery, romance, and suspense that kept me glued to the pages. At times I was even led to tears as Kit and Phoebe's past was revealed and as Kit and Graham both had to deal with the consequences and their own emotions. I thought the characters were interesting and well developed, and I enjoyed watching Graham and Kit learn more about one another and grow closer to God as they challenged one another's beliefs. Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel, and I look forward to reading the next installment in this new series.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I received this novel from Netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Raleway-Regular, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span>Rennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388812386641288408noreply@blogger.com0