ReviewsByErin

Picking up seven years after the events of the previous novel, friends from all over the country come together to throw Stuart Brannon a surprise 40th birthday party. It's a trip down memory lane as many major characters from the series come to visit. But the party comes to a screeching halt when it is crashed by a 12-year-old Indian boy claiming that Stuart Brannon is his father. Knowing the child is the baby who was born in "Hard Winter at Broken Arrow Crossing," Brannon doesn't know why Elizabeth has told her son he's his father, but after years of trying to find Elizabeth after the government has relocated her tribe numerous times, Stuart intends to keep up the ruse until he can see his friend and ask her himself.

Brannon and Littlefoot begin the dusty journey to find Elizabeth in Utah and soon realize they are being followed by an old nemesis from Stuart's years in Colorado. After more than a little danger and a few bouts of misdirection they reach Elizabeth, and Littlefoot goes a little crazy when he discovers that not only is Stuart not his father, he's actually the man who killed his outlaw parent. Elizabeth's weakness from late stage tuberculosis is a major consideration as they attempt to evade the gunfighter still hunting their trail and make their way back to Brannon's Arizona ranch.

Through battles, mistaken identity, the help of friends, and deep sorrow, Brannon and Littlefoot begin forming a bond that brings the past 14 years of Stuart's life full circle. It is in Littlefoot that Brannon begins to see some of the pain of his past redeemed and his lonely days made hopeful. This original ending of the Stuart Brannon series is full of adventure, retrospection, and musings on how God works in the lives of His children.

All Stuart Brannon wanted to do was ride into town, deliver something to Peter Mulroney, and finally head back to his ranch in Arizona. Instead he arrives at Broken Arrow Crossing, now renamed Paradise Meadow, to find Peter in jail for a murder he didn't commit and the city about to implode under corrupt leadership. Unable to stand by when there are good people in need of help, Brannon soon finds himself in the middle of the conflict.

A point of view character in this novel is Rose Creek, a schoolteacher of Cherokee descent trying to make her stand in Paradise Meadow. Ever since she spoke out publicly against the town's self-appointed mayor, Rose has been losing students and being pressured to move on. When Peter Mulroney is jailed, he asks Rose to take care of his three children and to try to find Stuart Brannon for help in this unjust situation. When Rose does meet Brannon for the first time they get off on the wrong foot, and she thinks he is a heedless, irresponsible man more likely to add to the problem than aid it.

As the decent citizens in Paradise Meadow begin banding together to fight against Mayor Rutherford, Brannon fears vigilante justice will result. Good people are so upset at the mistreatment they have suffered that they are more set on revenge than doing what is right. Brannon, Creek, and a few others try to remain impartial and hold things together, but as events unfold their lives and safety may just be threatened by the very people they are trying to protect.

When right and wrong turn upside down a lot of bad choices can be made, and eventually any good outcome becomes questionable. This novel puts our humanity into check and reminds us that our values must align with God's or they will lead to destruction. Can Paradise Meadow survive? Eventually the citizens themselves will be the deciding factor.

This third Stuart Brannon novel is full of memorable characters and page-turning action. Riding the trail with Stuart Brannon is never, ever boring!

Stuart Brannon tries his hand at prospecting in the second book of the series that bears his name. After the events of the first book, Brannon and his British friend Edwin Fletcher are still in the Colorado mountains, working hard to dig out a little gold from their mine. While Brannon's simple goal is to make enough money to finance a return to his Arizona ranch, little do they suspect their quiet location will soon be the center of multiple disputes and battles.

Challenging Brannon and Fletcher's claim to the land is Abner Cheney, who says the government gave him the right to the whole mountain because of the railroad he intends to put in. Cheney's former clerk Waldo Vance has also taken it into his head to usurp Cheney and take over the mine for himself. The warring factions come against each other as well as Stuart and friends, bringing in both lawmen and gunfighters to help persuade Brannon and Fletcher to desert their post.

Meanwhile Brannon strikes up an unexpected alliance with three Ute Indians, and faces another challenge when Velvet Wendell inherits one-fourth of their mine after Everett Davis's death. Brannon doesn't think that prospecting is any kind of life for a woman, but Velvet insists that she can pull her weight and that she deserves the chance to find some security after a life full of heartache.

The question Brannon must ask himself over the course of these struggles is what is right in any given situation. Is their claim on the mine legitimate? How do you avoid revenge while seeking justice? Is his own stubbornness and greed getting in the way of the truth? It's a time of growth for the man who so newly found his faith.

The fast-paced adventure will keep you turning pages until you reach the unexpected conclusion. Be watching out for more reviews from the Stuart Brannon Series in the near future!

Young Annabel Chapman's family owes a debt to the lord of their demesne, and they believe corrupt Bailiff Tom will help them pay it in exchange for Annabel's hand in marriage. Annabel, however, desires to become a nun and live her life studying the Bible, so she takes matters into her own hands and agrees to three years of indentured service to Lord le Wyse in order to pay her family's debt and also escape the unwanted advances of the bailiff. She hopes that after her time of service she will be able to take her vows and enter a convent.

Having just moved to the remote hamlet of Glynval in order to build a new manor house, Ranulf le Wyse is on a quest to hide from the world and recover from his past. He once saved a servant from a wolf's attack, and for his trouble he lost one of his eyes and use of his arm. Other life traumas have left him abrupt and easily angered, and the combination of physical and emotional scars give him a beastly bearing. He wants privacy and peace, but that is threatened when Bailiff Tom meets with a mysterious injury. His servant Annabel, whose reading of the Bible has often soothed his evenings, is one of the main suspects and he is sure she knows more than she is saying.

It was very easy to get caught up in this story! There was an element of danger which kept me turning the pages. I didn't find Annabel to be the most compelling character, as she seemed to have few faults besides a penchant for tears, and she fit one of my literary pet peeves in that nearly every man who met her wanted to marry her. But the story itself definitely fit with its "Beauty and the Beast" origins and was enjoyable overall. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, be sure to check out this and other works by Melanie Dickerson!

Welcome to fourtheenth century Germany, where a girl named Rose has captured the hearts of two brothers. As an apprentice to the local healer, Rose lives inside the castle walls and is receiving an education far beyond what most women are given at that time. She was chosen to be placed under Frau Geruscha's tutelage and wants to learn the healing arts, even if it's not something she is naturally drawn towards.

Lord Hamlin and Lord Rupert, sons of the duke of Hagenheim, come home after being away for some years and both fall in love with Rose. As the eldest, Lord Hamlin has been betrothed to the daughter of a neighboring ruler since he was very young. Lord Rupert will inherit very little and would be prudent to find a wife with a rich dowry. As Rose become friends with both young men, she is aware that anything more than friendship is not likely, even as Rupert begins making strides towards a courtship.

Having never met his betrothed, Lord Hamlin works hard to curb his attraction to Rose and stay faithful to the unknown Lady Salomea, whom he will finally meet in a few months. Lady Salomea has been in hiding many years, as her life has been threatened by the evil Moncore. Deciding to try to catch Moncore so his betrothed will be safe at last, Lord Hamlin encourages Rose to marry Rupert and leaves on his quest.

But when Lord Rupert's motives become suspect and a strange man begins shadowing Rose, it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems. Loosely based on "Sleeping Beauty," this tale brings us mystery, danger, hope, and a reminder that though God's plans often take us by surprise, they are always exactly right. How good to remember our trustworthy God during the sometimes dark and uncertain days we all go through!

I'm so glad I have been able to read a couple of Melanie Dickerson's fairy tale retellings, and I can't wait to read more. Stay tuned for future reviews.

Following in the footsteps of "An Assembly Such as This" and "Duty and Desire," this final installment in the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series brings us the climactic events of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" from the hero's point of view. Darcy's love for Elizabeth is on full display, from the opening scene on the way to Kent all the way through to the final lines on the last page.

After the disastrous events of the second novel, Darcy is ready to forget women everywhere and revoke his emotional attachment to Elizabeth for good. But the very day he makes this choice, he arrives at the home of his aunt for his yearly visit and discovers that Elizabeth herself is visiting her good friend just down the lane. A meeting is inevitable, and his heart will not listen to his cautions.

Finding Elizabeth just as witty and lovely as she was in Hertfordshire, Darcy decides he cannot live without her and begins what he believes to be a courtship, mistaking Elizabeth's responses to him as a form of shy encouragement. When he finally makes a declaration of his love in the Hunsford parsonage, he is beyond shocked at her round refusal and complete dismissal of him, his hopes, and his character.

Darcy returns to London and spirals into despair. How could he have been so blind to her true feelings? Could it be possible that he is more the man she thinks he is rather than what he has always tried to be? With the determined love of his sister and the strength of a good friend helping pull him through, Darcy begins overhauling the way he views the world and attempts to become the kind of man that Elizabeth would be proud to call friend, even though he knows he may never cross paths with her again.

I positively loved this book and found it thoroughly engrossing. Darcy's emotions were so palpable, whether it be his love or his pain or his decisions to make himself a better man. Although I enjoyed the first two books, I found this one to be the best by far. I hated every time I had to put it down, even though being familiar with Austen's original meant I knew how events were going to unfold. Pamela Aidan added a whole new dimension to the story and it had me hooked. I have a new understanding of Fitzwilliam Darcy which will enhance every future reading of the classic or the viewing of its various adaptations.

This series, and especially this final book, is one I would recommend to all Austen fans. If I may badly quote Lady Metcalfe talking to Lady Catherine: "Pamela Aidan, you have given [us] a treasure." 

Last year I read and very much enjoyed Carrie Turansky's Edwardian tale, "The Governess of Highland Hall," and I have been looking forward to its sequel ever since. Fans of "Downton Abbey" will enjoy the familiar setting, as we get a look at London society in the days before World War I, when family reputations were protected and advantageous marriages were still sought for the sons and daughters of the day.

We met 18-year-old debutante Katherine Ramsey in the first book, when she was a rather unlikeable but sympathetic character, covering up her grief and uncertainty with sarcasm and pride. Now more settled and having benefited from the influence of her governess, Kate is ready to be presented at court and seek a marriage proposal from an affluent suitor. Her deceased mother's sister, Aunt Louisa, is her sponsor, and she is more determined than anyone to make sure Kate connects with all the right social circles and secures a successful future for herself. If only Kate could be less awkward and more certain that was what she wanted with her life!

While staying in London for the season, the Ramsey family is joined by Jonathan Foster, the brother of our heroine from the first book. Jon is close to finishing his medical training, and while he had planned to go back to India as a missionary and continue his father's work there, his heart has recently been tugged by the needs of London's East End and the help that a free clinic is bringing to the inhabitants. Jon begins volunteering as often as he can while praying about God's will for his future. Attracted to the lovely Kate, Jon seeks to be a safe place for her to be herself apart from the demands and expectations of her aunt.

Kate is soon being courted by a wealthy young man and it seems almost too good to be true that things could be lining up for her so quickly. But when the actions of her cousin David bring the Ramsey family to disgrace, will Edward still be an attentive suitor? While waiting for things to sort themselves out, Kate begins accompanying Jon to the clinic in the East End. As her eyes are opened to the poverty so close to home, she begins to feel the shallowness of the plans she has always had for herself. She admires Jon for his strength of character and his giving nature, but she feels she cannot disappoint her aunt and let their relationship develop beyond friendship.

With social intrigue and the danger of going into the worst parts of London, "The Daughter of Highland Hall" explores the ways God works in the lives of His children. Trustworthy to direct our paths, He uses relationships and situations to help guide us into the place He would have for us in His kingdom. I also enjoyed the subplots and secondary characters in this book. I very much look forward to the next release in this series, scheduled for Oct. 2015. I'm sure it will be as excellent as these first two have been.

If you would like to read the first chapter of "The Daughter of Highland Hall," you can do so here, or to enter the author's giveaway which includes the book as well as Downton-themed prizes, click on this link. Hurry, the giveaway ends tomorrow!

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

Regency fiction always catches my eye, and I love it when an author is able to bring a new angle in teaching me more about Jane Austen's time period. In "Prelude for a Lord," Camille Elliot reveals that playing the violin was once considered to be improper and scandalous for young women. Of course this is demonstrated by a headstrong young lady who insists on playing it despite society's disapproval, and the story is made complete by a mystery surrounding her beautiful and unique Stradivarius instrument.

Lady Alethea Sutherton grew up rather isolated in the English countryside, with an unfortunately unloving family. Her one season in London was a miserable disaster, and she has mostly hidden away ever since, content to be reclusive because it means she can fully embrace her love of music. When her cousin inherits her home and the family title, he forces Alethea to call upon the mercy of their aunt in Bath to take her in, and Alethea must get used to living in town as a 28-year-old socially inept and opinionated spinster.

Her life becomes more complicated when she realizes she is being followed when she leaves the house, and she is confronted by a mysterious agent who wishes to buy her violin for a nameless client. Alethea treasures her instrument, which was left to her by the neighbor who taught her to play and gave her light and love during her dark upbringing years, and she refuses to sell it. She has tried to keep her playing a secret in order to protect her aunt's reputation, but it's clear someone has found out and knows more about her instrument than she does. Alethea is forced to seek out the help of the talented Lord Dommick, who in their one meeting years earlier had soundly discouraged her from continuing her musical pursuits, to discover the provenance of her violin.

Lord Dommick is well-known as a musician and composer in the London society scene. He has played in a quartet with his university mates for several years, until half of them joined the army to take part in the Naploeonic Wars. Now Dommick is back England, having recovered from an injury and now suffering from PTSD. The nightmares and flashbacks have made him reclusive, afraid to have an episode in public and thus bring shame onto his family. One of Bath's foremost matrons tempts Dommick to help Alethea in exchange for prominently featuring the Gentlemen Quartet in her upcoming gala, which would give a needed boost to their flagging social standing. He does not expect the attraction to Alethea nor the danger that both they and their families will face as the story unfolds.

This novel was a little slow to get into but I was quickly hooked and could not stop thinking about the characters. The novel has a bit of a darker tone, more in the style of Dickens than Austen, and I felt this was even reflected in the choice of character names. With other current Regency authors, such as Julie Klassen and Sarah Ladd, they really try to use names that are both familiar and period-appropriate, but Camille Elliot let you wrestle with the harder names and let them set the mood for a different kind of story. In fact, she has written blog posts about how she close Alethea's and Dommick's names, which I found fascinating. I loved the many secondary characters, and found the faith element very well-done and natural. I will be watching for the release of future titles by this author!



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

I'll never forget the day in June 2004 in Pryor, OK, when I brought this book home from the library by accident. By accident. Look at that bright cover! I don't know how it was possible that I took it off the shelf, walked it up to the desk to check out, brought it out to the car, and drove it all the way home before I realized which book it was. I had thought I picked up the Terri Blackstock novel next to it. But home was 15 miles away from the library and I had no reason to go back and exchange it. I might as well read it, right? Even though the back cover copy made me groan: "Jay Jarvis just moved east. His dating life's gone south. What else is a guy to do but go fishing?"

Now I'm not sure how well you know me, but that doesn't sound like me at all. What I didn't know then was that God had arranged to get this book in my hands, and that it would be exactly what I needed.

In this zany tale, Jay Jarvis has just completed a work relocation to South Carolina. In order to meet eligible females, he decides to start attending church, even though that is not something he has ever done before. His eye is immediately caught by unassuming Allie, a young missionary home on furlough. When he hears that Allie is helping plan the singles' retreat to the beach, he decides to join in and hopes to spend time with her. As Jay becomes more involved in the church, he meets all varieties of Christians: the hospitable ones, the legalistic ones, the secretive ones, the eccentric ones, and more. But he soon recognizes that they possess something inside of them that he does not, and he's pretty sure he wants whatever it is.

When Jay does come face to face with Jesus, he realizes that it has been God orchestrating these events all along. And as Allie is known to say, "God often has very different plans than what our earthly brains think is best for us." As the book continues, Jay seeks God's will for his life, his job, his relationships, and his location... and is flabbergasted by God's plans.

When I first read this book I was very much in a place of transition. 2004 was the year we lived in four different states. I didn't know what God was doing in my life, and I certainly had no idea what was around the corner, or that it would be as blessed as it has been. This book is laugh-out-loud funny and you'll never think of the color lime green the same way again. It was a bright spot in an uncertain time, and was an encouragement to my spirit. Now I've had the chance to be flabbergasted myself at God's work in my life, and I still love Jay Jarvis and the part he played in my journey. That was why I chose to do this 10th Anniversary reread, although it's far from the first time I've opened its pages again. I've bought this book in paperback and hardback. I've bought the audiobook. I have it on my Kindle, too! Ray Blackston's debut (and best!) novel shines in all mediums. It will never stop being one of my favorite stories.