The Captive Heart

Michelle Griep's novel entitled The Captive Heart will take you on a journey, during the beginning days of our nation.  As you watch Eleanor Morgan, a former governess, who has traveled from London, England, to America to start a new life, you will see her struggle to adjust to a new lifestyle in this new world!  When she finally ends up married to Samuel Heath, in order to care for his young daughter, Eleanor soon learns that she will be living with him in the backwoods of South Carolina.  No more fine city living for her!

The year is 1770, as you walk with Eleanor and Samuel, and you will see a much different world than the one we are living in today.  It will make you appreciate the world our forefathers traveled through and the hardships they endured!

As Eleanor struggles with this new world, you wonder if she will be able to adjust to living with Samuel, a man who is more like the natives then any man she has ever known.  Hold on until the final page to see where she ends up!

Will Eleanor choose the fine living in the city or the roughness and beauty of the backwoods?

For Love or Honor

For Love or Honor is the latest book in Sarah M. Eden's The Jonquil Family series.  As with all of the books by Sarah Eden that I have read, this was a very clean and proper tale.  The main difference is that this tale had a much darker tale to tell.  The year is 1815, and Stanley Jonquil is returning on a medical leave, from his time overseas fighting in the Napoleonic wars.  Stanley is not returning the upbeat and jolly man that he had been when he left; instead, Stanley is a man with damaged limbs and a spirit that had lost all hope!

Marjie is the young woman whom Stanley left behind, and whom has not received one word from this soldier, to even know if he is still alive.  Marjie and Stanley's entire family are shocked, when he suddenly shows up in London.  As Stanley and his family retire to their country estate (in hopes that Stanley will find some much needed healing), everyone soon find that his injuries are much deeper than what can be seen on the surface!

Hold on to see when and how healing will finally come to Stanley's soul!

This was yet again a great read from Sarah Eden.  I hope you do not miss it!

On Love’s Gentle Shore

On Love’s Gentle Shore is the 3rd book in Liz Johnson’s Prince Edward Island Dreams series.  You will see Natalie O’Ryan, as she is returning to Prince Edward Island after a fifteen year absence.  Her fiance, Russell Jacobs, thought she would be excited to return to the island for her wedding; unfortunately, this is the last place on earth that Natalie would select!

From the moment that Natalie takes her first step back onto the island, her mind is filled with the memories of the abuse she suffered, from both of her parents, in this place!  Not only does Natalie have to deal with several islanders putting roadblocks in her attempts to make plans for her wedding, but she also needs to make amends with her best friend, Justin Cade, whom she has had no contact with in the past fifteen years!

As Justin attempts to help Natalie with her planning, in the absence of her fiance; their friendship seems to be blooming again.  However, when Natalie's father's face suddenly appears on the scene; you have no idea what will take place next.  Hang on for this wild ride to see if this wedding ever comes together, and if Natalie is finally able to forgive her father for the pain and suffering he allowed to touch her world!

The Lost Castle

 

The Lost Castle, written by Kristy Cambron, begins with Ellie Carver coming to check on her grandmother Vi, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.  Vi’s eyes are very clear on this day, when she suddenly asks Ellie to go find the young man she lost years ago!

Ellie soon learns that her grandmother's story involves the Sleeping Beauty castle in the wine country of France.  As Ellie gets to know the characters associated with this castle, she has no idea what events will follow!!

This book was a bit difficult to read, as it kept jumping from one time period to another: from the French Revolution, to the days of World War II and finally to present day.  However, I was surprised that by the time I reached the final pages, I could not keep the tears from falling!

This book was definitely worth the read!

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

A Song Unheard

Roseanna M. White's latest entry, A Song Unheard, to her Shadows Over England series, will have you following Willa Forsythe and Lukas De Wilde all around England, as well as over the English Channel, into war torn Europe!

Willa, who was left as an orphan at the age of six, has become one of the best pick-pockets in London.  Lukas De Wilde is a famous violinist, who has gained a reputation as a bad boy.

When Willa is hired by Mr. V, a man connected with the English government, to steal some critical information from Lukas that could help England in the war effort, you know that fireworks are not too far behind!

This is a fast-paced tale, as you journey with Willa and Lukas to find and bring his family to safety.  You will watch both Willa and Lukas come to know God in a personal way as they fight the hardships of life!

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my unbiased review.

A Dangerous Legacy

On the opening pages of Elizabeth Camden's recent book, A Dangerous Legacy, you will meet Lucy Drake and learn about the forty-year-old battle her family has been waging.  Lucy and her brother Nick simply want to learn the truth about whom in her family should have the rights to a newly developed valve that can easily provide the movement of water within a building.  This is a necessity in the businesses and homes of New York City.  Their uncle Thomas has claimed ownership of the valve and is currently living in the lap of luxury on what he has been overcharging people to have easy access to water.  Lucy and Nick have been spending their days between their day jobs and battling the family war out in the courtrooms of New York City!

Lucy is spending much of her days interpreting the Morse code that comes across her desk, at the Associated Press.  When she meets Sir Colin Beckwith, from the rival Reuters agency, she soon learns that they have more in common than just news.  They both bear the weight of heavy family responsibilities.  Lucy wants to provide water to all in the city, at a reasonable cost; while Colin feels the pressure of being able to cover the high costs of maintaining his ancestral home!

Hold on, as you will see Lucy attempt to fight her treacherous family, and Colin look for a rich source of funding to save his family home.  By the final page of this tale, you will be surprised to learn where each finds a solution to their problems!

The View from Rainshadow Bay

Colleen Coble has once again hit it of out of the park with her latest tale, The View from Rainshadow Bay.  You will follow Shauna McDade from the opening pages of this book.  Shauna and her five-year-old son, Alex are just trying to get through each day, after her husband, Jack, fell to his death in a climbing accident one year ago.  When Shauna's dear friends, Clarence and Lucy Glennons, suddenly show up dead, as well, Shauna has a suspicion that they have been murdered!

Shauna needs assistance solving their murders, so she reluctantly calls on Zach Bannister, her husband's best friend, the man Shauna feels is responsible for her husband's death.  As Shauna and Zach dig into the details surrounding the Glennons deaths, clues come to light that will take Shauna back to the days of her mother dying, in an earthquake when Shauna was only six years old!

This book is hard to put down as you press toward the answer to who was behind these murders and more importantly, why they happened in the first place.  You will be surprised when the answers finally come to light!

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