The Governess of HIghland Hall

You meet Julia Foster on the first page of The Governess of Highland Hall.    Julia has recently returned from the mission field in India with her parents.  Her father had become gravely ill and needed to return home to England.   Julia needs to find work to help support her parents.  She cautiously approaches Highland Hall, hoping for a chance to work as a governess to the owner’s two small children.  On her way, she meets Sir William Ramsey; however, she mistakenly assumes he is the chauffeur!   Thus, begins her time at Highland Hall.

Julia soon falls in-love with the children and unfortunately, with Sir William, too!!!!  It is interesting to watch Julia blend into the household.  She soon becomes indispensable caring for both the younger children as well as Sir William’s teenage nieces.  When Sir William has trouble finding a way to pay the inheritance taxes, he turns to Julia to share the details of his dilemma.

Hang on for the ride as the solution does not come until the final pages!!!!

 

The Governess of Highland Hall is the first novel by Carrie Turansky that I have read.  It was great to find a new author, who writes about this time period of English history!

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my unbiased review

Rosemary Cottage

 

Rosemary Cottage is the second novel in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble.  You are introduced to Amy Lange, who has returned to the island, hoping to discover some clues in her brother, Ben’s death.  She can’t accept that a surfing accident alone was the cause.  She has received an e-mail that brought out all kinds of questions in her mind.

Amy soon finds out that her brother had led a life she knew nothing about, including a dead girlfriend and a child left behind.  Curtis Ireland, a coast guard officer, has been caring for Raine ever since his sister, Gina’s death.  He has been hesitant to inform Ben’s family about Raine’s existence.  But with Amy’s return to the island, he knew his secret would need to be revealed.  When Amy finally meets her niece, she is instantly drawn in.  Amy is content for Curtis to retain custody; however, when her parents learn the truth, they immediately want custody of the child.

After testing shows that Ben is not Raine’s father, more secrets are revealed about both Ben’s and Gina’s deaths.   Amy and Curtis start working together to find the truth.  Hold on for the shocking conclusion to Rosemary Cottage!

 

I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my unbiased review

 

 

Daughter of Jerusalem

Daughter of Jerusalem by Joan Wolf is a fictional telling of the life of Mary Magdalene.  

The story begins in Mary’s younger years, when her father takes her from Bethany to live with her aunt Leah in Magdala.  Leah lives with her in-laws and their large family.  Mary seems to have trouble fitting in with the girls her age.  However, she becomes friends with Daniel.  He is the son who is being groomed to be a scribe.  Soon their friendship grows into a desire to marry.  Unfortunately, the head of this family has decided that Mary is to marry an old rich Jew, who has homes in Jerusalem and Sepphoris.

Mary is heartbroken to be taken from Daniel and married to this old man, who only wants Mary as a means to gain an heir.  Mary soon loses many of her Jewish ways as she is now living in a town that is more Roman than Jewish.  When Mary’s husband encourages her to take a lover to help her become pregnant, events seem to get out of control.  Before you know it, Mary’s lover has her husband killed!

As a wealthy widow, Mary decides it is time to go back to her Jewish life.  She returns to Bethany and is reunited with her sister, Martha and her brother, Lazarus.  After spending some time with her family, Mary decides to build a home and settle near the Sea of Galilee.  This is where her life truly begins.  This is where she meets Jesus, the Son of God, who will forgive her sins and change her life forever!

This was an interesting story to read. It led me back to the scriptures to check on the actual details of the true story!

 

 

I received this book from Worthy Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review

Prairie Song

It was fun to catch up with several members of the Saint Charles quilting circle in the pages of Prairie Song by Mona Hodgson. 

Anna Goben is dressed and ready for her wedding.  But she just can't bring herself to move forward with a marriage to her dear friend Boney.  Instead, she decides to move ahead with her plans to join the wagon train heading from Saint Charles, Missouri to California.  Anna, Caroline, Hattie and Mary Alice all have spots on the wagon train.  They will leave behind dear friends but are looking forward to a new life out west. 

Anna wants a new life for her mother and grandfather,  both are having trouble letting go of the death of her brother in the Civil War.  Soon,  Anna meets Caleb Reger, a trail hand helping  the group on their journey west.  He quickly comes to mean more to Anna than she ever imagined.

Caroline continues to clash with the wagon master, Garrett Cowlishaw.  He has doubts about her joining the wagon train as a governess to several young children.  However, all moves forward for Caroline to start her life anew after the death of her husband.

You will enjoy the experiences of Anna and Caroline as they journey to this new place God has prepared for them!

 

 

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my unbiased review

 

Stealing the Preacher

Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer kept me turning page after page to discover how the story would end!

The story begins with Crockett Archer travelling to Brenham, Texas.  He is hoping and praying that he will be continuing his life as the new preacher in town.  His dreams are swiftly interrupted when the train is held up by men looking to kidnap a preacher!

Silas Robbins is looking for a birthday gift for his daughter, Joanna and she wants a preacher.  Little does he know she is looking for a preacher to reform her father!  Joanna had promised her mother before she died that she would continue to encourage her father to surrender his life to God.  Their local church had set empty for far too long.  Joanna wants to fill the pulpit with a man to join her in her efforts to reform her father.

When Crockett loses his opportunity to work as a preacher in Brenham, he decides to join Joanna in her cause to restore the small chapel that sits empty in her community. 

You won’t believe the events that follow after Joanna asks her father to hire Crockett as an extra hand on his ranch.  You will meet Jackson, the young boy who works at the ranch as well and is always getting into trouble.  Then, you meet Neill, Crockett's fiddle playing younger brother who stops in for a visit.  Finally, you meet Holly Brewster, the beautiful young lady who can’t keep her eyes and hands off of the new preacher! 

You won't be able to put this book down until you discover where God will lead Crockett and Joanna at the end of their crusade!!!

A Bride For All Seasons

A Bride for all Seasons is a book packed full of fun stories about four different women on their journey to meet the men God will use to change their lives!


In first story “And Then Came Spring” by Margaret Brownley, you meet mail-order bride Mary-Jo Parker. 

When Mary Jo arrives in Colton, Kansas, she makes a shocking discovery.  The man she was supposed to marry is dead!  

She had been corresponding with Dan for months.  However, he had left out one important detail when they made plans to marry; a young son comes along with deal!!!  Mary Jo is still adjusting to this young boy when soon meets Sheriff Tom Garrett, her dead fiancé’s brother.  The story gets very interesting at this point!


Next, you’ll meet Ellie in An Ever-After Summer” by Debra Clopton. 

After losing both of her parents shortly after her birth, Ellie is looking to start a new chapter in her life.  She answers an ad placed by widower Matt McConnell who is looking for someone to help raise his 2 year old daughter.

Matt wrote his ad with no room for misunderstanding—Bible believers need not apply. When Ellie shows up in town carrying her Bible, Matt’s so desperate for her help that he accepts!

What follows is a fun tale as Matt and Ellie start to learn the truth about each other!


You are introduced to Luvena Abbott in “Autumn’s Angel” by Robin Lee Hatcher as she travels with her nieces and nephew to meet her intended, Clay Birch.

Clay has shock of his life as he was expecting he future wife to arrive with no children! 

Luvena and Clay have some big decisions to make concerning how to move ahead.  Will Luvena become his employee at his new theater or become his new wife?


In “Winter Wedding Bells” Mary Connealy, you meet Megan McBride. 

She has come to Chicago to meet her future husband and his 2 young boys.  Megan is taken by surprise when she meets a father looking for someone to care for his sons because he thinks he is dying!!!

The family begins a trip across America to their home in Wyoming.  On the way, Megan realizes her new husband is quite wealthy and also that he is not dying!  Megan still can see life in his eyes.  Now she just has to convince him that God may have more time for him here on earth!



I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my unbiased review

Ripples Along The Shore

Ripples Along The Shore by Mona Hodgson tells the story of Caroline Milburn. 

Caroline is a widow, after her husband died in the Civil War.  Following the death of her aunt, she returns to her hometown of St. Charles, Missouri to live with her sister, Jewel, and her family.

Caroline feels at odds, not really knowing where her place is in this “new” life.  Shortly after returning home, she decides she wants to join the group that is forming to travel west.  She is excited about this new adventure!

When she announces her desire to join the group, their leader, Garrett Cowlishaw, forbids a single woman to be added to the others!

This story comes to an abrupt ending, but I hope Mona Hodgson is planning to continue this story in some future novel.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my unbiased review