Posts Tagged ‘historical romance’

Wow!

I could not put this book down.

Healer by Linda Windsor (the Brides of Alba)

Seriously, it sent chills down my spine. I was in awe of how Linda brought ancient Celtic ideas into a Christian fiction book.   She really engaged me in the story and helped me understand some of the history which I was familiar with.    Linda did an extreme amount of homework to make this book so  medievally delicious! LOL.  Some would call it controversial histories and tradition, I call it eye opening and a fabulous twist on Arthurian legends!

So what’s the book about?

Young Brenna is taken away from her family in the midst of a feud where her parents are killed by their foster brother.  Twenty years later, as Brenna grows up, she falls in love with none other than the son of the man who killed her parents.

Forgiveness, betrayal, demonic influences, God’s art of healing through nature are all topics in this book that ultimately pull you towards Christ.  Throw in a touch of romance, a lot of suspense and you’ve found yourself immersed in the healer.

I could relate a lot of Ronan and how he never felt worth of true forgiveness of Christ.. the growling of the wolf inside of him and who he would feed… I don’t think I really thought of it that way before even though I’ve heard the story — this just brought to down to a level where I could understand his emotions so much that I was like “ah ha!” I get it!

I also like that Linda explained a lot of the words in the book, but I mostly appreciated in her  opening the information about her reasons for writing the book, as well as the information on the word druid – which means “teacher, Rabbi, magi, or master” not the dark, hooded stereotype assumed by many today.

This powerful story is for anyone who loves the medieval era and longs to see Christ shine through it!  It is probably the best one I’ve read in a long time! It’s a powerful story for anyone who just outright enjoys historical fiction.  I fell in love with the characters!

I also loved the

I mean the next book can’t come soon enough! On my top 10 list for 2010 for sure!

Curious about Linda?

Check out her site: ~ www.lindawindsor.com

*review copy provided by www.davidccook.com

Seasons of Redemption Book 1
Unwilling Warrior
by Andrea Boeshaar

This historical romance will steal your heart; young Valerie Fontaine is alone after her mother dies, so she heads home to be with her father hoping it will fill the hole in her heart and relieve some of the pain  she feels.  She only discovers that she doesn’t really know her father at all.  While at home she meets Benjamin McCabe a photographer who seems to have captured more than images.  Benjamin is on the search for his brother Luke whom he was separated from during one of their outtings.  Through it all Valerie finds herself perplexed as her father continually attempts to set her up with her childhood friend.  To make matters worse, Ben seems to have an offer of love himself that he can’t seem to shake.  Just how much would you give up to be with someone whom you’re not sure really loves you, but you love them?

Unwilling Warrior is a warm and endearing story that shows the beauty of pain in our lives and how by relying on God that even though things come out different than we expected God is in it and he cares for us.

I loved this read. It was sweet and took me away to the South during the 1860′s.  I loved reading about Valerie’s strong character and her perseverance during the troubled times in her life made me think and question my own life.  When we rely on God and his provisions instead of ourselves we may find ourselves in different places than we expected, but we can be content and love it anyhow.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series called “Uncertain Heart”. If it’s as good as the teaser started in the end in the book it is the makings of a deliciously sweet series!

For more info about Andrea Boeshaar check out her website:  http://www.andreaboeshaar.com/

*review copy provided by glassroadpr.com

Sixteen Brides

by Stephanie Grace Whitson

The wild west!

The new frontier!

Women owning their own land in the late 1800′s!

Sixteen Brides is a historical romance that covers a wild adventure of sixteen women marking new territory! Little did they know they really were being brought under false pretenses, to accept marriage proposals from the men in the community.

Will they marry? Or will they find other means to survive?

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Wow! Talk about having some great stories in here. Stephanie takes you all over the place with these ladies! There are a lot you can relate to and wow, I would just love to read and read this one more. I love the variety in the characters; it made for a really interesting read! My favorite character was reading about Hettie! She was so hurt, and so different, you couldn’t help but cheer her on as the underdog!  Than Ella, tall and unloved Ella –>being taller than most of my friends I totally get that!  I wish this would have been a whole series instead of just one book so I could read and read about their adventurous lives!

The Faith, hope and love these fine ladies go through will grip your hearts and make you long for the prairie skies and cool country air!

Curious about it?

Check out Stephanie’s website: www.stephaniegracewhitson.com

** note contains one adult word wh**e, but used in context and part of the era

** review copy provided by Bethany House Publishers

I was pretty excited to review She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell.  I remember reading an earlier book of hers called Moon over Tokoyo.   It was a decent book, (the fact I remembered who she was right off the bat is a good sign! LOL)  Anyhow, I always enjoy seeing how authors progress after a few books, and if indeed they show what their potential did in the first few books they’ve written.  As an author, Siri has grown by leaps and bounds by this book.  I can see she is a seasoned author now and enjoyed her book immensely.

She grabbed me from the beginning with her feisty lead and I couldn’t help get caught up in this historical romance.  I wanted had  to know what was going to happen to her! She Walks in Beauty is in a sort of “My Fair Lady” story, except it is her Aunt trying to prepare her for debut.  She has to struggle with the battle of what society expects and what is right.  Can she do both?  Or will she sacrifice herself for family pride?

As I’m reading it, I think back to “those” days and long for high society and for manners and decorum that no long presents itself.   I feel like I should stick on a corset and join Clara at the ball! LOL.  Fortunate for me, I don’t have to do that anymore to go out to a Gala event of my own (well a good pair of super-tummy-tuckers but that’s a whole other story lol).  The stunning portrayal of a young Clara blossoming into womanhood was truly entrancing to read.

Anyhow, loved this book.  It carried me away for hours and I had a hard time putting it down (aka didn’t finish til 1am!!).  It contained everything a great story needs – love, intrigue, secrets, and strong truths laced throughout.  The only downfall is that it ended. I loved “She Walks in Beauty” , and I can’t wait to find another book from  Siri and watch her flourish as the gifted writer she’s becoming!

If you’re looking for an excellent read to give you a few chuckles, romance, and heart felt moments check it out!  You won’t be sorry!

One of my top favorites of the year so far!

Learn more about Siri on her website:  http://sirimitchell.com/

** review copy provided by Bethany House

Have you read one of Robins books before?  She has a lot of fantastic  books out.  Her latest is A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher.  It is part of  The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series.

This is a fantastic read. One of those books you can’t put down and you want it to never end!

The story set in the early 1900s of Daphne McKinley, a woman who has an interesting secret — she writes a set of popular novels but nobody knows she is the author.   As Robin says on her site “Who says a woman can’t keep a secret?”  Daphne sure can, but he problem is her fictional character isn’t fiction at all!   And his grandson is determined to find out who is tarnishing his name!

Robin knows how to bring out a well rounded story full of folly and endearment. You can’t help but being drawn in by these witty characters and their crazy stories!  This story starts out with a bang!  I was like “whoaaaaa” within the first 2 pages and couldn’t put it down!

She really brings out that you have the choice to build up or tear down people with our words.  Are we characters of integrity or are we dishonoring God by our words? This whirlwind of a story will have you in smiles, bring you tears and tug at your heart!

Loved it Robin!

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Curious about it?

To celebrate the book launch for A MATTER OF CHARACTER Zondervan and author Robin Lee Hatcher are pleased to announce the NOBLE CHARACTER contest.
Nominate a friend for the NOBLE CHARACTER award, and you could win a major prize for yourself… and a prize for your noble friend, too!

The Prizes:
—GRAND PRIZE Three (3) Grand Prize Winners will each receive a brand new Amazon Kindle, and a digital edition of A MATTER OF CHARACTER by Robin Lee Hatcher.
—NOBLE CHARACTER AWARD The nominated friend or family member of our Grand Prize Winners will each receive the complete Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, personally signed by Robin Lee Hatcher, and a Noble Character award certificate.

To enter, simply fill out the entry form, and include the name of someone who has made a difference in your life: A person of truly noble character.
Then tell all your friends about the contest! Each person you tell scores you another entry. The more people you tell, the higher your chances to win, so be sure to spread the word!

Winners will be selected Monday, June 14th, and announced on Wednesday, June 16th on the RobinLeeHatcher.com web site and in her newsletter.

Curious what others have to say?

Check out the participating bloggers on the blogspot tour

Check out Robins website or follow Robin on Twitter.

I especially love her post on Why I Write Christian Fiction it is soooo good to read, and explains a lot about her writing!  Something that I believe more Christian fiction writers should strive for!

**review copy provided in part with Blog Tour Spot

Morning for Dove by Martha Rogers

Morning with Dove  is a sweet historical romance, set in the late 1800′s.  It  explores the depths of race, love and how they unite.   It also covers bitterness and how unhealed hurts in our past can devour our lives and wreak havoc on those we love.

The premise of the book is that Luke was once scorned by Lucy who married a wandering cowboy, and now finally falls in love with Dove, who is half Native American.  His mother has issues with this and wants nothing to do with her, even though she knows that she is wrong.  She can not seem to shake her hatred even though she knows that her son is in love.  Luke has to decide about who he is going to love and how he is going to decide what is the right thing to do – respect his mothers wishes – or be with the woman he loves.  Will mother eventually understand that love isn’t a racial thing?  Or will he succumb and lose the love he’s now finally found in Dove?

This is the second book in the series “Winds Across the Praire” set in the Barton Creek in Oklahoma Territory.  I have not read the first book, but I don’t think you need to read the first one to get the storyline but it is probably a good read if it’s anything like this book!

I enjoyed this book. Martha takes an interesting style with this book when she shows  the point of view from several different views – Luke, Dove, his mother and her mother.  I thought it was really interesting that she started off with Luke’s voice — to hear “his side” of the story.    I found myself cheering him on and wanting to make choices for him.  I could feel his frustrations throughout the story, yet I could understand his mother’s fears and how should couldn’t figure out how to forgive her past.  I appreciated that you could see her fears but understand that it was unreasonable or rather unsubstantial in the current curcumstances.  I like that Martha didn’t make her out to be just a nasty bigot but rather someone  with her own story of anguish.  I like that Martha captured the views so we could all find someone to relate to — not that particular era, but rather with the sins and the issues at hand.

The only part that bothered me was that it was a little “too good to be true”.  I found Dove a little too sweet, just a bit to righteous and not enough spunk — but that could be just my personal preference of spunky women lol.   It was a little surreal for me.    But really all in all it is a nice warm read that just carried me away for a few hours!  If you’re looking for a nice Christian historical romance you’ll enjoy this book!

Want to know more about Martha?

Check out her blog:  http://www.marthasbooks.blogspot.com/

This review is part of the glass road blogger tour:

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval–even marry a man she doesn’t love.

Lt. Walter Novak–fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women–takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives.

As letters fly between Walt’s muddy bomber base in England and Allie’s mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?

A Distant Melody is the first book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

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Appearances.

Boy Sarah Sundin hits on a few topics that most of can relate to… not feeling good enough to be loved.   I don’t know about you, but that one sure makes me cringe because I can relate all to well of feeling inferior.    An other point I got out of the book is that lying always has consequences — even little white lies.  And the last point I pulled out of this book was that following God is not an easy thing to do.

This book… well I made the mistake of starting it at 8pm at night.. needless to say 3am I finally finished it. Could  not put it down! I had a bit of a giggle because of the language style Sarah used.  It reminded me of the nostalgic movies, so it gave me great imagery in my head with this book.  The story I will say was well written and … hmmm trying to think how to word it… I didn’t find it really deep or anything, but still good – and to me a book that takes a topic that isn’t really complicated and holds me attention is fantastic.  I mean really, turning something you already know into something better than good! kwim? lol.  Sarah had me totally immersed in the story and that was great.  Needless to say I’m really tired today! lol

My favorite part of this book was the heroine. She had lovely green eyes (I have green eyes, so that just appealed to me lol) and was very modest… seeking to do the right thing, even if it hurt to do it.  I loved how the story unfolded and how their lives unfolded before me as I read.  Sarah has a knack for including small details that brought the story to life.

I was definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good war romance book.  You’re heart will melt!

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THE CONTEST:

A Distant Melody, Book 1 in Sarah Sundin’s exciting Wings of Glory series, is in stores now! To celebrate the release, we’re offering one Grand Prize winner the chance to get NOSTALGIC!

THE PRIZE:

The Winner of  the ‘NETFLIX® & Nostalgia’ giveaway will receive a vintage prize package, including:

*A 6 month NETFLIX® subscription

*$25 Starbucks® gift card

*A box of See’s Famous Old Time Chocolates®

*A jar of homemade strawberry jam

*A Big Band music CD

*A Mini B-17 Model airplane

*Vintage stationery and pen

*British specialty tea

*WWII style playing cards

To enter just click on the icon above! Contest will be live April 5th and run through April 25th!

Check out what others have to say on the Litfuse blog tour: : http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/a-distant-melody-by-sarah-sundin.html

or check out Sarah’s site: http://sarahsundin.com/

The Bridegrooms

by Allison Pittman

It only takes an instant for love to strike.

Tragedy hits the Allenhouse family when a mother of four vanished. Eight-year-old Vada virtually grew up overnight and raised her three younger sisters while her father lost himself in his medical practice in the basement of their home.

Now, Vada is a grown woman, still making her home with her father and sisters. Her days are spent serving as an errand girl for Cleveland’s fledgling amateur orchestra; her evenings with Garrison Walker, her devoted, if passionless, beau.

Dizzying change occurs the day the Brooklyn Bridegrooms come to town to play the Cleveland Spiders and a line drive wallops the head of a spectator. The fan is whisked to the Allenhouse parlor, and questions swirl about the anonymous, unconscious man.

Suddenly, the sbudued house is filled with visitors, from a flirtatious, would-be sports writer to the Bridegrooms’ handsome star hitter to the guilt-ridden ballplayer who should have caught the stray shot. The medical case brings Dr. Allenhouse a frustration and helplessness he hasn’t felt since his wife’s disappearance. Vada’s sisters are giddy at the bevy of suitors. And Vada’s life is awakened amid the super-charged atmosphere of romantic opportunity.

Well I would have never guessed that this was about sisters who meet a bunch of baseball players lol! A historical romance with baseball doesn’t usually cross my mind if you know what I mean.   Four very interesting sisters are all looking for suitable husbands — well not necessarily intentionally looking… and when love strikes it only has to hit once.    I was mesmerized by this story.  I mean I  couldn’t put it down.  Allison Pittman has a way have holding your attention and if you’re an Emma lover, P&P, or perhaps Little Women, you’ll find this equally appealing. The era where woman aren’t allowed to vote, yet there is definitely  an opinion that gets voiced.  You’ll find yourself biting your nails as you follow this story wondering what’s around the bend for these lovely young sisters. Does love wait? Or does love come knocking?  Do you follow in family footsteps or do you break the mold and do what’s right?

A author I’ll be on the look out for in the future!

**review copy provided by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

SONS OF THUNDER By Susan May Warren

This reminded me of the Legends of the Fall… a movie from the 80′s with Brad Pitt in it– only different people and different time… and Christian. lol I guess not like it really but the situation of the woman only… It is a love story of a woman with two brothers whom both have their moments in time with her.

The interesting part of it was that Susan tied in Al Capone and Scar face, and all those figures.. the flappers and the night clubs.. it was a lively time of life and she did capture it quite well!  It also had Greece and World War II in it  to make an extremely adventurous romance.

As a fan of Susan’s books for the past few years, I have to admit I had a hard time getting into this book.   I thought it was a good read but  this one had a different feel than her regular ones and I can’t say that it was my favorite.   I found that it had too many things going on and it didn’t have the usual flow that I enjoy from Susan’s books (Usually I’m swallowed up by it and can’t put it down).  That being said, that is my personal taste on it because I enjoy her light hearted books a lot more but as a more dramatic book this one is wonderful.

About the book:

Sophie Frangos is torn between the love of two men and the promise that binds them all together. Markos Stavros loves Sophie from afar while battling his thirst for vengeance and his hunger for honor. Dino, his quiet and intelligent brother, simply wants to forget the horror that drove them from their Greek island home to start a new life in America. One of these sons of thunder offers a future she longs for, the other the past she lost. From the sultry Chicago jazz clubs of the roaring twenties to the World War II battlefields of Europe to a final showdown in a Greek island village, they’ll discover betrayal, sacrifice and finally redemption. Most of all, when Sophie is forced to make her choice, shell learn that God honors the promises made by the Sons of Thunder.

You can also be entered to win a copy of Sons of Thunder by helping us Spread the Word during the blog tour!

CONTEST
!
Be sure to check out Susan’s fun contest for the book’s release: Each one of us has a wealth of stories from the past – while they might not all be as sweeping and dramatic as that of Sons of Thunder’s Sofia and the Stravos brothers (swoon), your family history is a treasure nonetheless.

Well – let’s hear them! Were your great-grandparents ‘fresh off the boat’? Was your great uncle a war hero? Did your grandmother make unbelievable sacrifices to help or protect the family? Did your father harbor a family secret until his death? Are you related to someone famous? Do you have a family treasure? Whatever it is that is unique in your family history – share your story HERE! (click on the SHARE button) One grand prize winner will receive:

•    Memory Prize package containing a gift certificate to create your own hard cover photo book
•    6 month membership to Netflix (to satisfy that flick fix!)
•    Signed copy of Sons of Thunder!

5 runners up will also win signed copies of Sons of Thunder!

You can also be entered to win a copy of Sons of Thunder by helping us Spread the Word during the blog tour!

TWEET THIS:(must use hashtag #SonsofThunder to be entered – no limit on entries! Tweet away!)
Please RT! @susanmaywarren launches new Romantic Suspense #SonsofThunder. Share your story 2 win a fab prize pack! http://ow.ly/1digM

Check out what others have to say: http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/sons-of-thunder-by-susan-may-warren.html

or check out more about the book:  http://brothersinarms.susanmaywarren.com

A complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.

oooo this one made me giggle, while creating a few lumps in my throat as well… hard to tell which parts I enjoyed more.  You know you’re reading a good book when you get mad at the characters. Klaasen had me engages in the first few pages, and I actually had to put the book down because I didn’t like the way one of the characters treated another! lol.  When I got over myself and reminded myself that it was just fiction I delved in and couldn’t put it down again.

The book is called The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen

Mr. C laughed at me as I was explaining the story of Miss Keene as she fleed from her evil father unto a beast of a man Edward who reminded me a lot of the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Of course his affections lay else where because of his status and pride in his position.  He has had Olivia trapped at his estate because he believes she will sell his secret she accidently overheard while trying to flee to her destination.  Surprisingly some godly advice and forgiveness can go a long way.

On the back it says:

Olivia Keene is fleeing her own secret. She never intended to overhear his.

But now that she has, what is Lord Bradley to do with her? He cannot let her go, for were the truth to get out, he would lose everything–his reputation, his inheritance, his very home.

He gives Miss Keene little choice but to accept a post at Brightwell Court, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard. Keeping an eye on the young woman as she cares for the children, he finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction. The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.

Moving, mysterious, and romantic, The Silent Governess takes readers inside the intriguing life of a nineteenth-century governess in an English manor house where all is not as it appears.

I loved the setting in England, and the characters were all lively enough to make impressions.  Mr. Tugwell who was  a widow of 3 boys who was kind and interested in Miss Keene in a non-parson type way, or Felix – Edwards rogue of a cousin who couldn’t settle on anything.  Not to mention all the women in this book that livens up the book with their culturally rich background, and of course I can not forget Mr. Croome who is the gateskeeper for the Brightwell estates… or is he?  These lively characters remind me that having a rich culture happens to the best of us and that God uses our own curcumstances to bring us closer to Him.

I’m afraid I stayed up until One in the morning reading this delicious book and didn’t even finish it!  It’s fairly long at 440 pages, but kept me turning with sheer enjoyment.

This romantic book will have you wishing you were a genteel lady of sorts (with a bit of spunk!).

Check out Julie’s website for the other books she has written:  http://www.julieklassen.com/

Thanks to my friends at BethanyHouse for sending me a review copy of this delicious book!

Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana!

by Ocieanna Fleiss and Tricia Goyer

What is it about:

Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie Montana is a historical romance that takes place in 1889.  Julia takes an orphan train to deliver girls from her local orphanage to new families after their orphanage has been closed down.    Her final stop is Montana, but learns she isn’t heading home to New York as she was only  given a one way ticket to stay in Lonesome Prairie, with the intent to be  married to an old miner who doesn’t seem to take no for an answer!

Frustrated by her situation Julia tries to endure her situation and figure out a way to get back home, but when she meets the local parson she can’t seem to get him out of her mind — and he’s taken a vow to live a single life.

What does God have planned for Julia, stuck in the middle of no where?

My thoughts on this book:

Very sweet!  This is how I like a Christian romance novel to be!

What do I mean by that?  Well, it’s not just a historical romance novel–It’s meant for Christians and it contains a lot of biblical references that fit into the story nicely.    It’s clean and the smut and stuff found in regular romance isn’t there– BUT it has a lot of passion in it.  It leaves us with a great story line and a delicious yet wholesome romance!

I enjoyed how Goyer and Fleiss  show the heart – intent of  their characters.  Julia is lovable and yet has her own little flaws and quirks that make her down to earth.   In some ways a little cheesy (but most good romance novels have that, don’t they? lol)  The story is inviting and I caught myself more than once wishing that I could have friends like that, or be a part of a community like that.  I’ll even admit to a few out loud giggles and big grins on my face!  Like when she tells her friend Miriam that she helped in the birthing process before (even if it was with an animal instead of a human lol).

Being a prairie girl myself it was easy to get lost in the past of this story! I deem this book an inviting and delicious morsel  for all my history romance loving friends! It’s a fresh take on western romances!  I gobbled it up in a few hours; it was that delicious!

I would gladly read another book in this series and am looking forward to see what’s next in the “Love Finds You” series.

Where to buy the book:   http://www.triciagoyer.com/store.html?n=1

want to win it?

This book was  provided for my honest review by Litfuse Publicity.  Want to know what others thought?  Check out the other Litfuse bloggers on the tour:  HERE