ReviewsByErin

 


In 1849 St. Louis, RIley Rafferty is more interested in doing good deeds and becoming mayor than in remarrying. His first marriage was anything but happy before his wife's passing. But his father's ill health forces him to consult with a young matchmaker, who insists the perfect woman for him is the one who has vowed never to marry.

Finola Shanahan's interests lie in joining a convent. She believes she is not worthy of love or a family of her own. But her well-established family won't accept this for their oldest daughter, and they are certain their thirteenth round with the matchmaker will be the one that sticks.

The first thing I was surprised about in this book was that the matchmakers were both male. Maybe I've seen too much Mulan or Fiddler on the Roof, but I thought matchmaking was a singularly female pursuit. The second thing I was surprised about was how much physical attraction played a role in the story. One knows to expect a certain level of that with a Jody Hedlund book, but this pushed it a little too far for me personally. Another surprise was just how scheming Riley, Finola, and the matchmaker each were. Constant schemes! Always trying to work things out the way they wanted. None of them came across as very realistic characters to me.

The best part of this book focused on Riley's work within the city and the portrayal of St. Louis in this time frame. The worst part of this book were the scenes involving romance at a cholera sickbed. 

This end did set up the next book in the series very well and I am curious to see it unfold.

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 


If you've read the first two books in Jody Hedlund's Waters of Time books, you'll know why I was excited to read the third. These time-crossing novels take modern British scientists and sleuths and transport them to medieval times. I enjoyed Marian and Ellen's stories, and now Sybil gets to take center stage.

Sybil is very analytic and efficient, but she feels deeply. She's reaching the end of what she can do to help her injured veteran brother, who is shutting more and more people from his life. When Sybil finds vials of ancient holy water she's sure it can heal her brother. She's heard about what it can do for others. But what about what it might do for her?

After experiencing so much pain and loss, Sybil is not entirely sad to find herself in a medieval world. Especially when there are people who might need her help. Is it crazy to think of giving up her contemporary life to stay where the needs are so great?

I quite enjoyed the first third and last third of this book, as that's where the action and intrigue happen. The middle section focuses entirely on the romance, and it was too heavy for my personal taste. While I liked Sybil as a compelling heroine, I didn't develop the same feelings for the hero, which was too bad because we'd met him previously and I had been looking forward to his story. However, I'm glad I read this book because I wanted to know how things turned out for these two. 

Readers who enjoy time-crossing fiction and lots of romance will find everything they're looking for here. Fish out of water, high stakes, and epic fights. It might be your favorite of the series!

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Brody McQuaid survived the Civil War, but he's not gotten over his survivor's guilt. Plagued by flashbacks and nightmares, he cares about very little. Though his brother Flynn has taken Brody into his home, Brody feels like he's a continual disappointment with his uncontrolled ability to find or create trouble.

Savannah Marshall doesn't want to marry Chandler Saxton. She wants to be free to doctor animals, which is what brings her the most enjoyment in the world. Since her parents are so set on her marrying Chandler, Savannah decides to take matters into her own hands and run away. Surely someone will be willing to hire a female veterinarian.

When Brody crosses Savannah's path, she can see clear as day that he's a good man underneath his gruff exterior. He's willing to put himself in harm's way to save a mistreated horse, and he cares deeply about the wild mustangs roaming the mountains. She asks if she can make the McQuaid ranch her home base, and Brody and Flynn agree.

As the female veterinarian and the wounded soldier form a friendship, Brody takes his first steps toward healing.

I always enjoy a good cowboy book, and this one was no different. I liked the twist with runaway bride Savannah, and the Colorado landscape is richly described. Although at first I had a measure of concern about the way Brody was portrayed, as the novel progressed his healing took priority over the romantic relationship, which is exactly what needed to happen before a true relationship could flourish. Both characters showed tremendous growth over the course of the story. I can't wait for the next installment in this series!

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Flynn McQuaid has taken over the care of his younger siblings since his mother's passing and his stepfather kicking them off their Pennsylvania farm. When older brother Wyatt sends for them from his new ranch in Colorado, Flynn knows it's the new start he and his siblings need, even if things were tense the last time the brothers saw each other. 

Linnea Newberry fought hard to be included in the group of botanists heading west. Alongside her grandfather, she and the team are cataloging the regional flora and preparing to write a manual on western plants. However, Linnea has a penchant for falling into trouble and she's worried that her grandfather will find an opportunity to send her back home. 

After saving Linnea from nearly drowning, Flynn is surprised when her grandfather offers to hire him to be Linnea's guard while they travel west. The older man insists on keeping the arrangement a secret. Flynn tries to stifle his feelings of attraction for the young widow, especially because he intends to shun marriage and fatherhood, but the more time they spend together, the more he is drawn to Linnea.

I really enjoyed Flynn as a character. As an involved big sibling myself, I always appreciate stories about the same. The romance here was a little heavier than I like, but it's balanced by plenty of historical and scientific tidbits to make the setting and characters come alive. There was also a big unexpected twist that I quite liked. The last chapter sets up the third book in this series so well. I'm already looking forward to its release!

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 


Greta Nilsson would do anything for her little sister. When Astrid's consumption grows worse, Greta agrees to become a mail-order bride in order to move to Colorado, where the air is said to be healing. But the trip doesn't go as planned—and there's no groom waiting at her destination. What's a woman with a young sister in tow to do?

Wyatt McQuaid works hard but is struggling getting his ranch off the ground. He can't refuse when one of the town leaders promises to invest in his ranch on one condition: that Wyatt marries the mail-order bride.

As Wyatt, Greta, and Astrid begin a life together, they face many challenges. Hostile neighbors. Curious Indians. Astrid's impulsiveness. Can they learn to rely on each other in the good times and bad?

This is an endearing story with likable characters. Greta was my favorite, and I could relate to her as a fellow very involved older sibling. At one point she tells Astrid: "Being your big sister and taking care of you has made me into a better person." I feel that in my bones!

I would recommend this novel to fans of historical romance, and especially if you like marriage of convenience stories. That happens to be one of my favorite tropes, and it was done very well here.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Zoe Hart was a starving mill worker in Manchester, England, before joining a Bride Ship heading to British Columbia. Her dreams of an exciting new life are dashed when her good friend succumbs to illness only days after their arrival. While at the hospital, a baby of half-native heritage is dropped off by a drunken, grief-stricken father. Zoe falls in love with baby Violet and determines to care for her.

Pastor Abe has been serving as a missionary in the area for three years. He has a heart for the people around him, but his own heart belongs in England, where his sweetheart is waiting for him. When he receives a devastating letter from Lizzy on the same day he learns that his friend drank himself to death after passing his baby girl to Zoe, Abe offers to marry Zoe so they can become a ready-made family.

But trouble is brewing. Abe's bishop highly disapproves of his unconventional and sudden marriage. Zoe longs to travel north to find her brother who traveled to Canada a few months before she did. And Abe is drawn to Zoe but still recovering from the loss of the woman he thought he would marry. 

Can Abe and Zoe develop a relationship while ministering together in a remote hamlet? When the bishop presses, will Zoe be able to find another home for the baby she's come to love? What about the other orphans in town who need someone to care for them?

I enjoyed Zoe's big heart and the way she was not afraid of speaking her mind. Pastor Abe was kind and dedicated to his work, if a little dense where it comes to his new wife. I felt the middle of this book was a little slow, but the excitement picks up at the end with some unexpected sacrifices along the way. Although I would not recommend this for young readers, any adult who loves historical fiction should find something to enjoy here.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The final book in the Lost Princess series is here! If you missed any of you my reviews, you can find them at these links: Always Evermore Foremost

With eldest princess Adelaide Constance ready to reclaim her rightful place as queen of Mercia, it is time for youngest princess Emmeline to come out of hiding. Raised in isolation in Inglewood Forest., Emmeline has always known her true identity, but she loves her quiet home and has no interest in stepping into the public eye, especially during a war.

When crown prince Ethelrex finally tracks down Emmeline and threatens her family, Emmeline is forced to leave her home and soon finds herself being used as a pawn against the sisters she has never met. Her lonely background has not prepared her to stand against manipulation or face the fears that roil inside her. Emmeline must quickly learn to embrace her heritage and her gifts if she hopes to aid her sisters and help remove evil King Ethelwulf from the throne.

There were a number of things that made this story stand out from the others. Emmeline was quite the reluctant heroine, and I thought it was very realistic that she would have a hard time being brave and wise when her world before she was captured had been so small. I was also shocked and pleasantly surprised to find out the identity of the hero of this book. While he has been present throughout the series, I would not have guessed he would turn out to have his own story. He goes through quite a transformation in his own right.

If you like medieval fairy tales, this series is one you should check out. Each book is full of danger and adventure, and the conclusion is highly satisfying.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

 


Seventeen years after the events of Always, it is time for the Lost Princesses to learn their identities and begin the work of reclaiming the throne. 

Lady Adelaide grew up doing everything her male cousins did. She can ride, hunt, and even secretly masquerade as a knight and succeed in tournaments. Benevolent to those who live on her estate, she's quite the catch now that she is entering the age for courtship and marriage. She is shocked when a deathbed confession brings forth the truth: she is the crown princess of Mercia, the rightful heir to the throne that was stolen from her father.

Christopher left Mercia five years ago to serve the king of Norland, unwilling to put up with the loyalist position of his parents. When he learns that those leanings were a ploy to throw off any suspicion that they were raising one of the lost princesses, he begins to rethink everything. His younger cousin has grown into a beautiful woman, already vied over by many men who do not know her true identity.

Events are set in motion that put Adelaide on the run for her life. Is there a way to defeat evil King Ethelwulf and restore peace and harmony to Mercia? How can she find her younger sisters, the twin newborn infants who escaped from the castle the day her parents died? Is Christopher's loyalty to her true, or is it born from his desire to raise his position in the land?

Battles and wits play out in a race to keep Adelaide safe and take the next steps toward gaining the crown. Fans of fairy tales and young adult fiction will especially enjoy this new series from Jody Hedlund.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

 


Mercy Wilkins lives in one of the poorest sections of London. She's grown up assisting with the care of her siblings and neighboring children, and has often seen sickness and disease carry them away. Work of any decent kind is hard to find in 1862, much less if you are a young woman, but Mercy is determined to make a way for herself and to continue to help others. After seeing the struggles that come with marriage and motherhood, she promises herself she'll do everything she can to avoid both.

At the urging of her sister Patience, Mercy agrees to travel to British Columbia under the care of the Columbia Mission Society. They are promising a new life in a new land desperate for female workers -- and brides. It isn't until Mercy is on board that she realizes the full extent of the mission's expectations.

Dr. Joseph Colville has all but renounced his title and wealthy estate in order to serve the lower classes and travel the world as a ship's doctor. As a younger son, he was never supposed to inherit the responsibility of a lord. Though loving friends and family members question whether Joseph is a modern-day Jonah running from God, he insists he'll know when he's found the time and place to settle down.

The trip on board the Tynemouth is full of dangerous situations. There are storms, emergencies, and even a mutiny! It was interesting to read in the Author's Note how many of the situations came straight from the real life history of this bride ship. I'd never heard of bride ships before, and it was somewhat horrifying to think of these women coming on board with only the clothes on their back, yet full of hope for the future. How bleak their lives must have been!

There was once scene that left me shaking my head. A storm with hurricane intensity holds the ship in its grip, and Mercy fears she will die. When she confesses to Joseph that she doesn't know if she'll go to Heaven, he says, "If we are to perish this night, you most assuredly do not have anything to fear in standing before your Maker. You are the closest to an angel I think I shall ever meet on this side of heaven." That's a nice compliment, I suppose, but it doesn't meet Mercy in her eternal need. Mercy needed to know about Jesus' personal love, care, and sacrifice on her behalf. I find it sad that in a novel about Mercy wanting to live free from her past, true spiritual freedom was not a greater part of the story.

As one can expect with any Jody Hedlund novel, there is plenty of romance. The story moves at a good pace and I was not entirely sure how it was going to end until I reached the final pages. I would recommend this for readers ages 16 and up.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

Note: If you have any questions about the freedom and salvation that can be found in Jesus, please do hesitate to contact me or to follow the link I posted above for more information.

 


The journey of the Neumann sisters continues in this new novel from Jody Hedlund. Marianne Neumann has taken a job with the Children's Aid Society largely because it will give her the opportunity to search for her missing sister Sophie. On the brink of her first trip as a placing agent, Marianne wonders how she can travel the Orphan Train and not completely lose her heart to the children in her care.

Alongside Marianne is gregarious seasoned agent Drew Brady. Drew finds Marianne beautiful, but while he enjoys flirting he has no desire to settle down. His first priority is with the children and finding good homes for them.

There are adventures while traveling with more than thirty children. Some of the orphans are young and in need of tender love and care, while some are older and surly, hardened from their years on the streets of New York City. Drew and Marianne grow closer as they must rely on each other to see this challenging journey through its conclusion. 

Near their final stop things take a sudden and drastic turn. Danger, lies, and the actions of the past threaten to tear apart everything that Drew has come to value, and Marianne faces decisions of her own. What if what she once desired now no longer holds the same appeal? Where does the line lie between duty and desire?

Historical romance fans will find much to enjoy in this series! I can hardly wait for the final book to be released in December!

I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.