ReviewsByErin

Tension ran high in the United States in 1941. Europe and Asia were embroiled in another war, and Americans were divided about whether her military should be involved or remain neutral. Working as a secretary at the Boston Navy Yard, Mary Stirling has a front row seat to the construction of new battleships, and her ears are full of the rumors of sabotage among the workers.

When Jim Avery is assigned to a newly-commissioned ship in Boston, he's delighted when his paths cross with Mary, a childhood friend. Jim isn't looking for a relationship right before he ships out, but he's happy to see a familiar face and have someone to visit with on his days off. When Mary tells him about the sabotage rumors and her desire to do something to help gather evidence by inconspicuously using shorthand to record the conversations she overhears, Jim is full of encouragement.

The latest Regency novel from Sarah E. Ladd had me enchanted from its first pages. Our heroine, Camille Iverness, is tender but capable as she works in her father's curiosity shop in London, where they import treasures from all over the world for people looking to expand their personal collections. Having spent several years growing up on her grandfather's country estate, Camille is more cultured than the average Londoner and has a good, genuine heart.

Jonathan Gilchrist is a country apothecary who came in line to inherit his family's fortune when his older brother died. His father has never approved of his vocation, and Jonathan has never been especially interested in managing the estate. But when his father confesses that he's gambled away the lion's share of their money and that a valuable ruby has been stolen, Jonathan is tasked with recovering the ruby and attempting to save their home and reputation. Hiring an old friend of the family to assist him, they soon suspect that the ruby has found its way to the Iverness Curiosity Shop.

Recent events have left Camille with some concerns for her safety as she works for her father, but things are so much worse than she suspects. When she finds herself desperately in need of a helping hand, Jonathan Gilchrist is there with a steady kindness and a promise to help her find a new place to live and work. She is very grateful but also a little uncertain of his motives, and decides to stand on her own as much as possible as she tries to move beyond the disappointment of the past and into a future bright with possibilities.

There was so much I enjoyed about this novel! Camille's personality reminded me so much of my own, and I believe she might be an ISTJ like me. Her determination reminded me of Jane Eyre at times. Jonathan is a wonderful hero, very sensitive and compassionate towards the needs of others. The plot was solid and held just the right amount of twists and turns, keeping me guessing until the end. This book is my new favorite by Sarah E. Ladd, which is saying something because I have greatly enjoyed her others. I'd highly recommend this for all fans of Regency stories.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Reminiscent of the pastoral works of Elizabeth Gaskell, "The Midwife's Tale" is set in rural Pennsylvania in 1830. Martha Cade has been serving the community as a midwife for many years, following the steps of her esteemed grandmother, and raising her children alone after the death of her husband. Assuming that one day her daughter will apprentice at her side, Martha is devastated to return from a distant birth and discover that Victoria has run away from home - and with a theatrical troupe, at that!

After an unsuccessful attempt to locate Victoria before the company she is with sails for Europe, Martha comes home to find the town of Trinity changed. There's a new young doctor who has been more than willing to step in and deliver babies while she was away, and his presence and practice threaten her life's work. A string of robberies have left citizens on edge and distrustful of one another. Martha decides to take it upon herself to find the culprits and restore peace, but evil is very good at hiding and may still destroy much before she is able to expose it.

I found several things about the book to be quite interesting. I liked that Martha was older than the stereotypical heroine. The whole subplot of choosing doctors or midwives for maternity care is one still going on in real life today, although thankfully bloodletting and leeches are no longer medically acceptable by any care provider! Martha also seeks to look at everything that happens in her life, whether good or bad, as a gift from God, which gave the book a hefty but not preachy spiritual weight.

I should note that very early in the book there was one use of anatomically correct language that took me by surprise only because there has been a bit of an uproar about the use of such words in Christian publishing in the not too distant past. It was not inappropriate in context, and I did not have a problem with it. There are a few birth scenes, although fewer than you might think given the title, but nothing that was overly graphic or shocking if you are familiar with the process.

The story is very gentle and meandering, with a multitude of characters who can seem very unrelated to each other or the plot. I enjoyed the book overall, but it took me quite a while to read and I never felt too invested in what would happen. I would recommend this story to those who enjoy tales of small towns and their quirky citizens. My thanks to the publisher, who provided me a copy of the book in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.

I've only read one other Anita Higman novel, but it was one of my favorites from 2013. When the opportunity to review her latest release came my way, I jumped all over it! Higman is definitely a gifted author, with a unique voice that stands out in the Christian marketplace.

Our heroine of this story, Summer Snow, has her life turned upside down in the opening pages. She breaks off an engagement to a man she realizes is not right for her, and finds out that her beloved grandmother, her only living relative, is dying of heart failure. Granny has two deathbed wishes that she asks Summer to fulfill: that Summer would complete the list of adventures her grandmother wants her to have, and that she would reconnect with her childhood friend Martin and convince him to do the list with her. The list includes things like 'build a tree house' and 'go on a hot air balloon ride.' Summer hasn't seen Martin in 19 years, but he still holds a special place in her heart.

Meanwhile Martin has never forgotten the girl who stole his heart before he lost touch with her. Now grown into a quiet, somewhat eccentric man with a dysfunctional family background, Martin is thrilled when Summer looks him up and happily agrees to accompany her to fulfill her grandmother's list.

From the very beginning the writing style reminded me of early twentieth century authors Gene Stratton-Porter and Lloyd C. Douglas. The characters spoke in mini monologues and the motivations were uncomplicated and straightforward. The longer the story went on the more it also hearkened to the moralistic works of Louisa May Alcott, and while none of these are bad associations by any means, it was a little frustrating that every character easily fell into the category of good person or bad person, and the plot lacked complexity. It was disappointing in that sense, although I did enjoy the throwback feel because of my love of classic literature.

If you enjoy the style of old school storytellers, or are looking for a book that would be safe in the hands of young readers, this might be one for you to check out.



I received my copy of the book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Allison Denman is about to reach happily ever after. Her wedding is just days away, and she's marrying the guy she's dated since high school. So why is she suddenly full of doubts that this is the right thing to do?

Beth K. Vogt brings us a quirky and interesting runaway bride story, as Allison's uncertainties override her longing for security, and she skips town while leaving her groom at the altar. Unable to unbutton the back of her dress, she's stuck in the silk and lace monstrosity - which wasn't what she wanted in the first place - until she can buy new clothes and find a helpful stranger to assist her. She doesn't want to go back to her apartment or answer the calls and texts from family and friends; she just wants to hide out and sort through her muddled emotions.

Fiance Seth is determined to win Allison back. So maybe he was too pushy getting the wedding he wanted instead of the quiet setting that Allison desired, but he's known her for so long that he believes he knows what is best.

Meanwhile Seth's brother Daniel is trying to push away the guilt that he feels for having kissed Allison five days before the doomed wedding. He's slowly fallen for her while sending her dozens of postcards from his adventures over the years. Allison deserves stability and his job requires him to travel all over the world - but he meant every word of those Wish You Were Here cards.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. The themes were thought-provoking and while this could have been a very predictable story, it never stopped surprising me by going deeper at every turn. Allison's past struggle with cutting herself and current temptation to relieve her stress by going back to self-harm was something that I have never personally seen addressed in Christian fiction, and I thought it was masterfully handled. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

Revisiting the Michigan shoreline in this installment of her Beacons of Hope series, Jody Hedlund gives us the story of Emma, a young Irish woman who feels like the opportunity to have a home and family of her own might have passed her by due to her family's nomadic lifestyle. When a shipwreck lands Emma and her brother on Presque Isle, a marriage of convenience may give her a place to belong at last.

Patrick Garraty has a troubled past full of bad decisions, but since giving his life to the Lord he has been able to see many things restored to him. Unfortunately a happy marriage was not part of that picture. Now that his wife has died, Patrick is looking at either losing his job as lighthouse keeper or losing his son, as he cannot care for both the light and Josiah. When his good friend and spiritual mentor suggests marrying the young woman now stranded on the island, Patrick isn't sure he wants to risk his heart again on someone might reject him because of the ghosts that haunt him.

Telling her only that he hasn't always been proud of the things he's done, Patrick and Emma agree to the suggested marriage. She's never had experience with childcare or housekeeping, and she's afraid Patrick will find fault with her and send her away. Meanwhile he's certain that she will want to leave as soon as she hears rumors about the shady things he's done. When indeed the local gossips begin to tell her tales, her admiration for the kind and gentle man she knows begins to dim. Her questions grow more urgent when Patrick rescues a man who turns out to be a pirate - and a close friend from long ago. Will the secrets of the past tear apart any hope for a future?

This was a very fast read. Heavier on the romance than I prefer, but it did keep me glued to the pages with some unexpected twists and turns. The next book in the series is on my To Read pile, so look for that review coming up soon.

Melanie Dickerson's new release is Robin Hood meets Swan Lake in a fairy tale mash-up. Concerned for the poor and starving children around their village, Odette begins poaching deer in order to provide meat for hungry families. Somewhat protected by her uncle's position as a respected merchant, she feels safe venturing into the forest for her nightly brushes with lawbreaking. It isn't until she meets Jorgen, the newly appointed and very handsome forester, that she begins to doubt if her actions have really been as morally right as she had previously thought.

Jorgen takes his job as forester seriously, especially since his adopted father was killed by poachers. Having found evidence of recent poaching in Thornbeck Forest, and seeing the rapidly diminishing number of deer around him, Jorgen is determined to find the person responsible and hold them accountable.

While all of this author's previous releases have been for the young adult genre, this is the first in a new series for adults. I confess that I did not enjoy it as much as her other works, largely because the writing was overly simplistic. It lacked details and nuance, and the characters were rather flat and predictable, not experiencing much growth. There were several side plots which I did not think were satisfactorily followed through on, including the hints that there was a second and more irresponsible poacher out there, or who owned the Red House.

The plot did hold a few interesting and unexpected twists, but largely it failed to impress, especially considering her wonderful YA books. I hope that her upcoming November release - a Rapunzel story! - will be a return to what made me a fan in the first place. I'm looking forward to it already!




I received my copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rachel Hauck has written some of my favorite Christian chick lit novels, and this 2006 release recently caught my eye with its fresh new cover. Our heroine for this story, Macy Moore, seems to be on a fast track to having her dreams come true, living up to the Most Likely To Succeed expectations which her high school classmates bestowed upon her once upon a time. But in the space of a few hours one February day, Macy is demoted at work and dumped by her boyfriend. Just like that, she's left floundering and seriously doubting the life choices which have led her to this point.

At the bottom of her own resources, Macy leans on a group of friends who have banded together and call themselves the Single Saved Sisters. Each of these women has a unique personality which added something different to the story. Macy also spends time getting to know her neighbors and looking for a job to get her career back on track.

I must admit that at first Macy seemed very shallow and the faith element of the novel basically non-existent. But Macy's journey through disappointment brings out some very real emotions and helps her reevaluate what is important in life, including her relationship with God. As His plan begins unfolding, Macy must choose whether to continue pursuing her own path or walk through the unlikely doors that He has opened.

While I did feel that there were plot, characterization, and narrative issues which prevented this from becoming a new favorite, overall I did enjoy it and felt that Macy's emotional trek was very true to life for single women whose lives take unexpected detours. If you are looking for a quick, light read - perfect for upcoming summer vacations! - this is one you might want to check out.

When Kristy Cambron burst onto the scene last year, her debut novel was met with high praise. Her newest release goes above and beyond, in my opinion, and captures the needs, fears, and emotions of the World War II setting in a way that will leave you breathless.

Kaja Makovsky's parents managed to get her out of Prague before the Nazis completely took over their city. Broken-hearted that they refused to leave themselves, half-Jewish Kaja is determined to one day find her way back to her home country and get them out. As the war unfolds, Kaja finds herself in London working as an editor for The Daily Telegraph during the German blitz on England's capital city, spending much time in air raid shelters and making unlikely friends with Liam Marshall, a reporter whom she is sure is also a member of foreign intelligence.

As news begins circulating about of the atrocities being done to the Jewish people under Nazi rule, Kaja decides to let nothing stop her in getting back to Czechoslovakia and rescuing her parents. Your heart breaks as you watch her saying goodbye to the relative safety of London and plunging herself into Nazi-occupied countries, and knowing because of the title that Terezin will factor in somewhere. How does she get to the concentration camp? Will she survive once there? My nerves were frayed waiting to see how the story progressed.

Continuing the contemporary story from "The Butterfly and the Violin," we revisit art gallery owner Sera James as she makes a new home for herself on the West Coast. While she hopes she's now found her happily ever after, those dreams are jeopardized when her fiance is charged with criminal activity. While Sera believes in his innocence, she doesn't understand his stubborn lack of openness about what really did happen. Determined to launch her own investigation into the matter, Sera heads to Europe to track down every lead and discover the truth.

Both of these women - Kaja and Sera - are determined to give everything they have for those they love. While it's a prison sentence threatening Sera's man, we get to see Kaja's spirit truly rise to the occasion when she is confined within the walls of Terezin. Tasked with teaching school for the children too young to work, Kaja must look beyond the bleakness and horror to instill hope in a place where hope seems impossible. Kaja knows that God sees each sparrow who falls, and surely He sees each soul who falls in this dark ghetto.

I felt that Kristy Cambron did a wonderful job with this historical novel. The way she portrayed London during the blitz made me feel like I was there, and the scenes in Terezin made my heart ache for all their struggle. I was left inspired to never give up and to do my best to watch out for and love those around me. I would say this ranks among my favorite WWII novels ever.

I received my copy from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lady Rosemarie has spent the past four years preparing to fulfill the vow her parents made on her life. She's come to terms with the unusual requirements and is ready to embrace what appears to be her calling. When the Duke of Rivenshire, her godfather, arrives for an unexpected visit, he has some shocking news for her. There's an exception to the vow, which he believes her parents meant for her to find. The exception states she must fall in love and marry before sundown on her eighteenth birthday, which is only one month away. After years of quiet preparation and not much contact with the rest of the world, this seems an unrealistic idea, even if the duke has brought his three most trusted knights to try to win her hand. Wouldn't it be better to go through with the vow rather than risk heartbreak and dissatisfaction at the end of the month?

After serious reflection, Rosemarie decides that she can't find out God's will unless she gives the knights a chance. Sir Collin, Sir Bennet, and Sir Derrick are all handsome and brave, and soon two of them are showering her with gifts, compliments, and lavish attention. The other seems more focused on meeting Rosemarie in her daily tasks of taking care of her people, and encouraging her to be strong as she prepares to take over full leadership of her land. Although the attention of the more ardent suitors is flattering, it's the sincerity of the third that draws Lady Rosemarie to him.

As the month unfolds, mysterious events begin happening. Two of the knights almost lose their lives to attempted murder, strange outbreaks of illness occur throughout Rosemarie's realm, and the local sheriff is killed in a brutal attack. Meanwhile Rosemarie's guardians and guides have very different opinions about which route she should take for her future, and her own heart is torn over the decisions in front of her. But she might not even be able to make the choice, as an evil influence is working against her to take away her options and force the outcome that best favors his own intentions.

I believe one of the author's chief goals with this story was to show the target audience that choosing a life mate is more about character and similar life convictions than it is about excitement or the delights of a moment. This theme is really excellently done. The plot has a fast pace and the emotions keep you turning pages to see if Rosemarie will end up safe and sound and with the knight who has won over not only her affections but those of the reader as well.

I also appreciated the theme of leadership and the exploration of what courage really means. To be courageous and a good leader doesn't mean to be brash or to necessarily be the first to rush into battle. Sometimes it means the most when taken in the form of humility. It means being able to put the good of others in front of your own desires. These lessons are learned by our main characters in resonating ways.

This story appears to be the first in a series and thus the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but that just means there is more to look forward to from this author in the future. Thank you to the publisher for my copy of the book, which was given in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.